BJP petitions K'taka CEO accusing Cong of spreading 'misleading' info against SIR

Bengaluru, Jul 8 (PTI) Karnataka BJP on Wednesday submitted a memorandum to the state CEO against circulation and spreading of "misleading, false and fear-mongering" information by the Congress party against the SIR. The BJP also urged the CEO to initiate appropriate action against the Karnataka Congress and its workers, preventing them from unlawfully interfering with the constitutional procedure of carrying out the Special Intensive Revision of electoral rolls in the state. BJP state convenor S Dattatri and the party's state legal cell convenor Vasantkumar submitted the memorandum to Chief Electoral Officer V Anbukkumar here. The house-to-house enumeration phase of the SIR in Karnataka that commenced on June 30 will continue up to July 29. "As it stands today, the INC (Indian National Congress) - Karnataka has been circulating flyers or pamphlets physically and via social media which makes false and vexatious allegations against the BJP that the SIR process is being conducted at the behest of the BJP. On the contrary, the Election Commission and its officers are merely discharging the constitutional duties," the memorandum said with the copy of a pamphlet. The saffron party said that the pamphlet further makes allegations that the Election Commission has removed names from the electoral rolls without due process in cohort with the BJP. "These sweeping and irrational allegations are a direct attack on the Constitutional mandate being discharged by your Hon'ble Authority. Also, the pamphlet directly targets the fairness of the SIR procedure in Karnataka at the hands of the Election Commission and states that only INC - Karnataka can safeguard the votes of the citizens," it added. Noting that these "unfounded and unreasonable" allegations directly affect and may deter the CEO, District Election Officer (DEO), Electoral Registration Officer (ERO), Additional EROs and other public servants under the Election Commission from discharging their constitutional duties, the BJP said, these fake and false information being circulated creates a sense of apprehension in the minds of the citizens and may also create a sense of insecurity in the minds of the Electoral Officers when they conduct the house-to-house data collection. Thereby, exposing them to violence. "Hence, it is requested that this Honourable Authority initiates appropriate action against Indian National Congress Karnataka and its party workers and prevent them from interfering unlawfully in the constitutional procedure of carrying out the Special Intensive Revision - SIR," it added. PTI KSU KH