Karnataka Deputy Chief Minister and State Congress President D.K. Shivakumar expressed concerns on Friday about a perceived plot to manipulate the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) process, potentially impacting the voting rights of underprivileged individuals. Shivakumar emphasized the importance of awareness among Congress workers to safeguard against any attempts to disenfranchise citizens. Meetings are being held to educate legislators and Booth Level Agents (BLAs) about the SIR process and the necessity for individuals to submit applications to avoid losing their voting rights.
Shivakumar highlighted the potential consequences of losing voting rights, citing risks to access welfare benefits like pension schemes and the Gruha Lakshmi scheme. He pointed out that similar incidents have occurred in other states, underscoring the need for public awareness. In response to queries about the withdrawal of alleged criminal cases against Muslims by the Karnataka government, Shivakumar clarified that only politically motivated cases had been revoked, including those against farmers and Kannada activists.
Meanwhile, Karnataka Law and Tourism Minister H.K. Patil assured that the government would take all possible steps to protect citizens’ voting rights if any process unjustly affected their franchise. Patil raised concerns over the transparency and implementation of the SIR process, citing instances where nearly 27 lakh people lost their voting rights in states like West Bengal. The Cabinet deliberated extensively on the alleged irregularities and objections surrounding the SIR process, with discussions on potential legal actions, including approaching the Supreme Court.
