Karnataka BJP President and MLA B. Y. Vijayendra criticized the state Congress government’s issuance of Permanent Residence Certificates (PRCs), calling it a tactic to safeguard illegal immigrants and bolster its voter base. He expressed intentions to legally challenge the constitutional validity of the PRC and plans to petition the Governor against what he deems an illogical and unconstitutional action. Vijayendra announced a forthcoming meeting with the party’s legal team to strategize on opposing the state government’s move.
The BJP President accused the Congress of hypocrisy regarding the National Register of Citizens (NRC) and PRC, highlighting the party’s opposition to the NRC while endorsing the PRC in Karnataka. Vijayendra emphasized that the authority to issue PRCs or conduct the NRC lies with the Union Ministry of Home Affairs, questioning the state government’s interference in citizenship matters. He alleged that the timing of PRC issuance during the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) exercise suggests a political ploy to benefit from protecting illegal immigrants.
Vijayendra vowed to combat the state government’s actions politically and legally, asserting that the BJP will challenge the move and raise the issue with the Governor. He pledged to prevent the Congress government from encroaching on the Centre’s jurisdiction over citizenship matters under the Indian Citizenship Act.
