RSS, BJP have hatched a conspiracy to delete voter names during SIR, says MLC

MLC F.H. Jakkappanavar has said that the RSS and the BJP have hatched a conspiracy to delete names of voters during the SIR (Special Intensive Revision) in 97 Assembly segments in the State where Congress has clear chances of victory.

Addressing a press conference in Hubballi on Monday, Mr. Jakkappanavar said that the Congress will not allow their ploy to succeed.

Clarifying that the Congress is not opposing the SIR, he said that there are certain doubts about its implementation which still remains unclear.

Mr. Jakkappanavar said that the BJP has planned to indulge in vote theft through SIR on the lines of West Bengal and Bihar but, the Congress will not allow it to happen in the State.

On the BJP allegation that enumeration forms are being filled en masse, Mr. Jakkappanavar sought to know what is wrong in it.

“If illiterates gather at one place and fill the enumeration forms given by the Election Commission of India with the help of literates, what is wrong in it? ECI has not issued a guideline which says that enumeration forms should not be filled at one place,” he said.

To a query, he said that Congress workers and booth-level agents have been advised to properly sensitise voters about the SIR process and protect their voting rights.

Mr. Jakkappanavar also said that the time given for completing the SIR is very short and the booth-level officers are being pressurised to complete their work within a month. At least two months should have been given to them to complete the process, he said.

Replying to a query on the RSS, Mr. Jakkappanavar defended Home Minister Priyank Kharge’s statement that it (RSS) should take permission for its activities, including route march, in the State.

“What is wrong in saying that you should take permission? He has not said that we will not give permission. He has said that if you submit application, we will verify. Is the RSS exempted from taking permission? No. The law is the same for every individual, association and organisation,” he said.