SIR row: Police stations have become Congress stations, says K'taka BJP

Bengaluru: Leader of Opposition in the Karnataka Assembly R. Ashoka on Tuesday alleged that police stations across the state have become “Congress stations” and accused the Shivkumar government of targeting BJP workers by filing criminal cases against them.

Speaking to reporters after meeting Governor Thaawarchand Gehlot along with other NDA leaders, Ashoka said he had brought the issue to the Governor’s attention and urged action against the government.

“I, Union Minister H.D. Kumaraswamy, former Home Minister and MLA Araga Jnanendra, Bengaluru MP P.C. Mohan, MLCs C.T. Ravi, Bhoje Gowda, Muniraju and Leader of the Opposition in Council Chalavadi Narayanaswamy, among others, met the Governor,” he said.

Ashoka alleged that cases were being filed against BJP and JD(S) workers without any basis, causing them harassment. He said the opposition leaders had also met the Election Commission on Monday, seeking clarification on Form-7 applications.

“Anyone can submit Form-7, and they can submit as many as they want. This is the law. When we asked the Election Commission for clarification in this regard... When we asked them whether they had asked the police to register cases, they made it clear that the Commission had not asked anyone to do so,” Ashoka said.

He alleged that a complaint had also been filed against the BJP MLA from Jayanagar and claimed that BJP workers were being targeted through criminal cases across the state.

“This shows Congress' goonda culture,” Ashoka alleged.

He accused the government of taking the law into its own hands by accepting complaints on a large scale and harassing BJP workers. “The government should be warned against targeting BJP workers. The government should be dismissed,” he demanded.

Ashoka said the BJP and NDA had been gaining strength and alleged that Congress was unable to tolerate that. “That is why our workers are being harassed. We met the Governor, keeping all these issues in mind,” he said.

Meanwhile, Leader of Opposition in the Karnataka Legislative Council Chalavadi Narayanaswamy alleged that the Congress government was creating fear among people by registering FIRs against whom Congress workers had made allegations.

Speaking after meeting the Governor, Narayanaswamy said the BJP and JD(S) leaders and elected representatives had met the Chief Electoral Officer on Monday and sought clarification over the alleged confusion surrounding Form-7 applications.

“The Chief Electoral Officer has clarified the issue. If there is any matter concerning Form-7, it is an issue between the Election Commission and the people. It is not a matter concerning the state government,” he said.

Narayanaswamy said no voter's name had been deleted from the electoral roll merely because a Form-7 application had been submitted.

“After Form-7 is submitted, not even a single name has been deleted. If any decision has to be taken, the Election Commission will scrutinise the applications. If the documents are correct, the name will be retained, and otherwise the application will be rejected,” he said.

He alleged that despite this, police were registering suo motu cases under the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita against those submitting Form-7 applications.

“Under the Representation of the People Act, if there are any irregularities, the Election Commission should take action. Only if a complaint is made can the police register an FIR and initiate legal action,” Narayanaswamy said.

He alleged that the Congress government was putting pressure on the police department to register cases.

“The Home Department is behaving as though it is holding an umbrella even in broad daylight. The Home Minister is involved in various activities instead of looking after the Home Department. He does not know how to manage the department,” he alleged.

Narayanaswamy further alleged that the Home Minister could face legal action in the future and claimed that the government had suffered a setback in court.

He also criticised the state government for staging a protest outside the Election Commission office.

“No government has ever sat on the streets in this manner. They postponed a Cabinet meeting and went to sit in front of the Election Commission office,” he alleged.

Narayanaswamy said the opposition leaders had informed the Governor that the Congress government was attempting to create fear among people and added that the Governor had assured them that action would be taken in accordance with the law.

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