Bengaluru, Oct 1 (IANS) Union Minister Pralhad Joshi on Thursday criticised Karnataka Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar for staging a protest outside the office of the Chief Electoral Officer in Bengaluru over the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls, alleging that he was neglecting farmers’ distress, drought conditions and people’s basic problems.
In a statement, Joshi said it was unfortunate that Shivakumar was staging a protest instead of focusing on finding solutions to the drought situation, farmers’ difficulties and pressing public issues in the state.
He said election officials, Booth Level Agents (BLAs) and Booth Level Officers (BLOs) were well aware of the electoral process, the SIR exercise, Form 7 applications and voter list revision, adding that the Election Commission was continuously monitoring these matters.
Joshi alleged that the state government had completely neglected farmers’ problems, drought conditions and people’s basic needs, and had even postponed a Cabinet meeting to stage the protest to appease what he termed “fake Gandhis” and protect questionable voters.
Describing the protest as unfortunate and condemnable, he alleged that it was an attempt to create an imaginary threat and mislead the public.
Questioning the police action, Joshi said protests in Bengaluru are permitted only at Freedom Park and asked why no First Information Report (FIR) had been registered against those staging the protest in violation of the rules.
He alleged that the police acted immediately against others who staged protests elsewhere in the city but remained silent in this case.
It may be recalled that Karnataka Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar on Thursday staged a dharna on the premises of the Chief Electoral Officer’s office in Bengaluru, demanding the registration of a criminal case and a probe into the alleged conspiracy to delete the names of eligible voters through Form 7 applications.
Shivakumar, accompanied by several Cabinet colleagues and legislators, visited the Chief Electoral Officer’s office in Gandhinagar and submitted a memorandum seeking action.
He subsequently staged a protest on the steps of the office and said the agitation would continue until a criminal case was registered and a serious investigation ordered.
–IANS
mka/dan
