Bengaluru, Oct 11 (PTI) Karnataka BJP president B Y Vijayendra on Sunday warned that the party would lay siege to police stations and district SP offices if the state government continued registering FIRs against party workers for submitting Form-7 under the SIR of electoral rolls.
Speaking to reporters after a BJP core committee meeting held in the presence of state co-in-charge Kasam Venkatesh, Vijayendra said the meeting discussed several key issues, including SIR Form-7, the issuance of permanent residence certificates (PRC) by the state government, bypolls, and the forthcoming Zilla Panchayat and Taluk Panchayat elections.
He said the committee had also decided to appoint district in-charges and constitute election management committees in every district to prepare the party for the local body polls.
Vijayendra alleged that the Congress government was creating confusion over SIR Form-7 and misusing the police machinery by registering FIRs against BJP workers who had submitted the forms in accordance with Election Commission rules.
He said the Karnataka High Court had also pulled up the state government over the issue.
“Despite this, if the government continues to register FIRs against BJP workers, the party will not remain silent. The core committee has decided to lay siege to the concerned police stations and the offices of district Superintendents of Police,” he said.
The BJP chief was referring to criminal cases registered at various police stations across the state against individuals, particularly BJP workers and sympathisers, accusing them of filing fake Form-7s targeting certain sections of the society.
Form-7 is a voter application form for objection to the proposed inclusion/ deletion of a name in the existing electoral roll.
Vijayendra objected to the state government’s decision to authorise Panchayat Development Officers (PDOs) and municipal commissioners to issue permanent residence certificates (PRC).
He said the authority to issue such certificates should be restricted to tahsildars and officials of higher rank.
The state government should immediately withdraw its decision, he said, adding that the party would write to the government and bring the matter to the notice of the Election Commission.
With by-elections in Karnataka likely to be announced at any time, the BJP would consult JD(S) leaders and coordinate with its alliance partner before finalising a candidate, Vijayendra said.
The core committee discussed the need to take JD(S) leaders into confidence and ensure coordination within the alliance while deciding on the candidate, he added.
On the forthcoming Zilla Panchayat and Taluk Panchayat elections, Vijayendra said the state government had already announced the reservation categories, but certain discrepancies and confusion remained in the reservation lists.
He alleged that some decisions appeared to have been made in a manner favourable to the ruling party, raising doubts about the government’s willingness to hold the elections.
“The government should not resort to tactics to postpone the elections by citing various excuses,” he said.
Vijayendra said the BJP would begin preparations immediately and appoint election in-charges for every district. District-level election management committees would also be constituted without delay to ensure effective preparation for the polls, he added.
He urged the government to resolve discrepancies in the reservation lists, ensure transparency and conduct the elections in a fair manner instead of attempting to defer them.
Vijayendra said the meeting also discussed whether the existing core committee should continue or new members should be inducted in view of the appointment of new party in-charges.
However, the final decision rests with the BJP national president, who had already been apprised of the matter, he said, adding that a decision will be taken at an appropriate time.
Commenting on the alleged sting operation controversy in the state, Vijayendra said the BJP did not need to react unnecessarily until the facts emerged.
He said discussions were underway that the developments could be linked to internal differences and a power struggle among ministers and legislators of the ruling Congress.
The identities of those behind the sting operations, their motives and the veracity should first be established, he said. Vijayendra claimed that signs of concern were visible on the faces of the CM and ministers.
There appeared to be suspicions within the ruling party about whether some of its own members were behind the developments, and more details could emerge in the coming days.
Shivakumar reportedly warned his Cabinet colleagues of attempts to trap them using sting operations.
He said that he knows exactly who is behind attempts to conduct a sting operation, and who is financing private agents to conspire against him.
On alleged irregularities in Karnataka Public Service Commission (KPSC) recruitment, Vijayendra said the BJP’s position was clear: any wrongdoing should be investigated thoroughly and impartially, and those found guilty should face stringent legal action, irrespective of their position.
Responding to Minister Priyank Kharge’s question on why the BJP was not speaking out on the issue, Vijayendra said the government should first explain its handling of the investigation.
He also sought clarity on developments relating to the SIT probe and matters that reached the courts.
“There is no ambiguity in the BJP’s stand on the KPSC issue. The truth must come out, and the guilty must be punished,” he said. PTI KSU ADB
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