Bengaluru, July 2 (IANS) Union Minister H.D. Kumaraswamy on Thursday alleged a “massive scam” in the ongoing Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls in Ramanagara district and claimed to have exposed the alleged irregularities by releasing a video.

He demanded the immediate suspension of the Ramanagara Deputy Commissioner and action against officials allegedly responsible for dereliction of duty.

Addressing an emergency press conference at the Janata Dal (United) (JD-U) state headquarters, JP Bhavan, Kumaraswamy alleged that the Congress government was attempting to derail the SIR process in several parts of Karnataka, with Ramanagara serving as a glaring example.

He further alleged that, using the Chief Minister’s direct influence, attempts were being made to create documents for “thousands of bogus voters,” including illegal immigrants from Bangladesh.

Displaying the purported video, Kumaraswamy urged the Election Commission of India to intervene immediately and put an end to the alleged irregularities.

Expressing concern over the developments in Ramanagara, the Union Minister said the videos reflected the deteriorating state of democracy.

“Looking at these videos, one can understand where our democracy is heading. This is the kind of shameful act being carried out by a party that publicly displays the Constitution in one hand. It is misleading people by suggesting that they will lose government guarantee scheme benefits and is carrying out this exercise,” he alleged.

Kumaraswamy claimed that, instead of Booth Level Officers (BLOs) conducting door-to-door verification as mandated, thousands of people had allegedly been gathered at a convention hall in Tippu Nagar in Ramanagara under the influence of the Chief Minister to conduct what he described as an “SIR fair.”

He further alleged that illegal Bangladeshi immigrants, whom he described as a threat to national security, were being protected and systematically provided with documents to enable them to obtain voting rights.

Responding to recent remarks by Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar regarding the SIR exercise, Kumaraswamy accused him of misusing his office.

The SIR process began from the Chief Minister’s residence. As the Chief Minister, he should have appealed to people to cooperate with the process in accordance with official procedures.

Instead, he should not have blackmailed people by saying they would not receive government benefits if they were not included in the voters’ list. Such conduct is inappropriate for a Chief Minister, he said.

He alleged that fear of losing benefits under the state’s guarantee schemes was being used to influence people during the SIR exercise and claimed that statements made by Congress leaders substantiated the allegation.

Calling it a complete administrative failure, Kumaraswamy accused officials of succumbing to pressure from the ruling party and violating the law.

He further alleged that creating documents for illegal Bangladeshi immigrants amounted to an act against the nation’s interests.

The Union Minister said he would submit the purported video and other evidence to Union Home Minister Amit Shah and the Election Commission of India.

He urged the poll panel to immediately intervene, suspend the ongoing SIR process in Ramanagara, and take action by suspending the officials allegedly responsible for the irregularities.

–IANS

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