Karnataka CEO’s notices to 35 BLOs prove SIR irregularities: Union Minister Kumaraswamy

Bengaluru, Jul 9 (PTI) Union Minister H D Kumaraswamy on Thursday said the Karnataka CEO's decision to issue notices to over 35 BLOs was itself proof that irregularities had taken place during the ongoing SIR of electoral rolls in the state. He also accused the state government of attempting to divert attention from the issue. Kumaraswamy recalled that senior leaders from both the BJP and JD(S) had recently met the Karnataka Chief Electoral Officer V Anbukkumar as well as the central Election Commission and submitted representations highlighting the ground realities during the Special Intensive Revision implementation. "We provided sufficient material for the EC to take action and issue directions to the BLOs and district magistrates," the union minister for Heavy Industries & Steel told reporters here. Following the representation, Kumaraswamy said the EC had assured that it would take necessary action if required. "Therefore, we are not worried. Several illegal activities are taking place, and that is precisely the issue we raised before the EC," he claimed. He said the Karnataka CEO has issued notices to more than 35 booth level officers. "Why were notices issued to 35 BLOs? Because there were irregularities. That itself shows the irregularities are real. However, due to interference from the state government, despite several mistakes and illegal activities committed by BLOs, attempts are being made to divert the issue by talking about something else," he claimed. Commenting on the Cauvery river-sharing issue with neighbouring Tamil Nadu, the minister said the dispute has to be fought legally and requested the leaders of all parties in Tamil Nadu to cooperate. "We have to fight it legally. I would like to request the leaders of all parties in Tamil Nadu — we are like brothers and sisters. Whatever water God gives us, we should share fairly from the reservoirs. For that, they must cooperate with us," he said. Claiming that the farming community has been neglected, the minister urged the state government to immediately take care of farmers' interests. "This government is currently facing two kinds of disasters — floods on one side and drought on the other. In both situations, the farming community has been neglected," he alleged. Pointing out that there is no agriculture minister in the cabinet at present, Kumaraswamy said the responsibility rests with Chief Minister D K Shivakumar. "He (the CM) should issue immediate directions to all deputy commissioners to protect the interests of farmers," he said. Kumaraswamy urged the Karnataka government to immediately release water from the Krishna Raja Sagara reservoir to protect standing crops in Mandya district, saying the crops are drying up. He said the government had earlier not released water to farmers, citing insufficient storage in the KRS reservoir. However, with inflows into the reservoir increasing now, there is a need to release water for irrigation, he said. "There was no need to neglect the interests of Karnataka's farmers. Water can be released to Tamil Nadu after the reservoir fills up, and any surplus water will naturally flow downstream. At present, the priority should be to release water into the canals for farmers," he said. On the Hindustan Machine Tools land row, the union minister hit out at former Forest Minister Eshwar Khandre, claiming that the HMT land has no connection whatsoever with the forest department and that the department has no rights over the property. He said those making allegations should first verify the official records. Strongly objecting to Minister Khandre's remarks regarding a notice issued by a forest official over the HMT land, Kumaraswamy said the former forest minister appeared to have an "unusual interest" in the HMT property and questioned the reason behind it. Kumaraswamy said the dispute concerning HMT land was already pending before the Supreme Court and pointed out that efforts to secure a revival package for the once-iconic public sector enterprise were in their final stages. PTI AMP SSK