HD Kumaraswamy accuses Karnataka Congress of "hijacking" SIR process, alleges irregularities in Ramanagara district

Bengaluru (Karnataka) [India], July 2 : Union Minister HD Kumaraswamy on Thursday accused the Congress government in Karnataka of "hijacking" the ongoing Special Intensive Revision (SIR) process, alleging large-scale irregularities in Ramanagara district.
Addressing an emergency press conference at the party's state office, Kumaraswamy released video evidence and claimed that the SIR process was being misused to enrol illegal voters, including Bangladeshi immigrants.
Kumaraswamy said the state government was "completely derailing the process" in Ramanagara and other parts of Karnataka. He demanded the immediate suspension of the Ramanagara Deputy Commissioner and action against all officials involved for dereliction of duty.
"Using the Chief Minister's direct influence, an attempt is being made to create documents for thousands of fake voters, including illegal Bangladeshi immigrants," Kumaraswamy said.
He also urged the Election Commission of India (ECI) to intervene and put a stop to the alleged violations.

The Union Minister claimed that instead of Booth Level Officers (BLOs) conducting door-to-door verification as per rules, thousands of people were being gathered at a community hall in Tippu Nagar, Ramanagara. He termed it a "SIR Jatre" being conducted under CM's influence.
"This is a systematic conspiracy to nurture Bangladeshi infiltrators, who are a threat to national security, and give them voting rights here," he said.
Kumaraswamy further alleged that fear was being created among the public that welfare guarantees would be cut, and the SIR process was being misused for political gain. "This is the despicable work of a party that holds the Constitution in one hand for show," he added.
Speaking on Chief Minister DK Shivakumar's recent statement on SIR, Kumaraswamy said, "The SIR process in the state started from the Chief Minister's house itself. A Chief Minister should call for the process to be conducted transparently. He should not blackmail people by saying they won't get any facilities if they don't have a vote. What the Chief Minister has done is not right."
He called the developments a "complete administrative failure" and said officials had "thrown the law to the wind under pressure from the ruling party". "Creating documents for Bangladeshi immigrants is an act of treason," Kumaraswamy added.
Kumaraswamy said he would not remain silent on what he called a "murder of democracy." He announced that all evidence, including videos, would be submitted to Union Home Minister Amit Shah and the Election Commission of India.
He demanded that the SIR process in Ramanagara district be immediately halted and guilty officials be suspended.