By withdrawing objections, BJP admitted to misusing SIR process, says Satish Jarkiholi

“Across the State, BJP workers are withdrawing the objections that they had filed against the inclusion of eligible voters under the Election Commission (EC) of India’s Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls. This clearly shows that the BJP is admitting that it was misusing the SIR exercise to target and delete voters from deprived groups and some communities,” Public Works Minister Satish Jarkiholi said on Monday.

“BJP leaders and followers have been filing a large number of third-party objections in bulk. They have not only violated the procedure for filing objections, but they have also tried to intimidate officers and create confusion in the minds of the people,” he said, adding, “A look at their objections shows that they were deliberately trying to target vulnerable groups of voters. However, when Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar and other leaders protested in front of the EC office in Bengaluru and BLAs started filing FIRs, BJP leaders are withdrawing their objections. This clearly shows that our allegations against them were not false.”

“Since the start of the SIR process, we have been saying that the BJP was trying to misuse the process. We have been proven right. BJP leaders should explain why they are withdrawing their objections if their complaints were legitimate,” he told reporters in Khanapur in Belagavi district.

“As far as the Congress is concerned, we have no confusion about the process. We have assured our party workers and voters that we will ensure that not a single eligible voter loses his right to vote. Whenever there was a lack of clarity regarding SIR, we have discussed it with senior officers and obtained information. Legal action can be taken against those who intentionally submit incorrect applications. A notice will be issued within seven days of application submission, and a case will be registered if the allegation cannot be substantiated. I want to assure the people that not a single eligible voter’s name has been deleted in Belagavi. If anyone’s name has been left out, it will be re-included upon notification,” he said.

To a query, he said the Chief Minister and party high command would take steps to ensure that the vacancies in the Cabinet would be filled soon.

Responding to demands by farmers’ groups for a higher Fair and Remunerative Price for sugarcane and Minimum Selling Price (MSP) for sugar, Satish Jarkiholi said that the authority to fix the sugarcane price was with the Union government and not the State.

“The State government has already sent a letter to the Union government requesting an MSP hike for sugar. We have been making a request for the annual revision of MSP over the years, but there has been no hike so far. We hope that there will be an increase this year,” he said.

The Minister said the Union government was yet to invite Ministers from the State for a meeting with farmers, officers and sugar mills scheduled in New Delhi. The issue could be resolved if there was an agreement between the stakeholders, he said.