Kharge tears into BJP, EC over SIR; questions 400-plus forms

Bengaluru, Oct 4 (UNI) Karnataka Home Minister Priyank Kharge on Saturday launched a blistering attack on the BJP and the Election Commission over the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls, questioning the alleged distribution of hundreds of pre-printed forms and demanding answers on the integrity of the exercise.

Taking direct aim at the BJP, Kharge said the rules did not permit 400 to 500 forms to be handed over to anyone who was not a Booth Level Agent (BLA). Even BLAs, he said, could not be given pre-printed forms. "If they are not BLAs, they cannot be given 400 to 500 forms. Even if they are BLAs, pre-printed forms cannot be given.

Then where did more than 400 forms come from?" he asked. The Minister said the question was not merely about the forms but about the credibility of the entire SIR exercise. He cited criticism of the process by former Election Commissioners and developments in Bihar and West Bengal, saying they had raised serious questions about the manner in which the electoral-roll revision was being conducted.

Describing SIR as a "drama", Kharge alleged that people were themselves questioning the process and accused Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar of "hiding the truth". He went further, alleging that the CEC was functioning as a "puppet of the Centre". Kharge also questioned the software used for Form 6, saying allegations of tampering were serious enough for the system to be subjected to an IIT audit. "If the software has not been tampered with, why is it being audited? When an IIT audit is taking place, how can anyone say beforehand that there was no tampering? That has to be established," he said.

He also questioned the Election Commission's move relating to judicial protection for the Chief Election Commissioner, asking why such protection was necessary and pointing out that previous election commissioners had not sought such protection. The remarks came amid an escalating Congress-BJP confrontation over SIR, with the BJP attacking the electoral-roll revision and the Congress turning the spotlight on the Election Commission's procedures and the credibility of the exercise.

Kharge said developments in Bihar, West Bengal and Haryana, coupled with questions raised by former election officials, made it necessary to scrutinise the SIR process and demand accountability from those conducting it.

UNI BDN