Daijiworld Media Network – Mangaluru (NJC)

Mangaluru, Nov 3: Accusing the Congress of making baseless allegations of large-scale irregularities in the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls and attempting to create unrest across the country, Mangaluru City South MLA Vedavyas Kamath challenged Congress leaders to produce evidence of even a single instance of wrongful voter deletion in his constituency.

Addressing a press conference at Atal Seva Kendra on Tuesday, Kamath said that instead of staging protests in front of the Election Commission offices, Congress leaders should identify the voters marked under the ASDD (Absent, Shifted, Dead and Duplicate) categories in Karnataka and ensure that eligible voters submit the necessary applications through the prescribed procedure.

He said that out of the nearly 99 lac voters listed under the ASDD categories in Karnataka, Congress leaders should bring forward at least nine lakh people and help them file applications in accordance with the rules.

"Even after all the necessary documents have been submitted through the proper procedure, if the name of even a single voter has been illegally deleted in my Mangaluru City South constituency, irrespective of caste, religion or community, bring that person along with the supporting documents. If there is not a single such case, Congress leaders must publicly apologise for making false allegations," he challenged.

Alleging that the Congress was resorting to such protests out of frustration over its inability to politically counter the Central Government led by Prime Minister Narendra Modi and win public confidence, Kamath said that attempts were being made to discredit the Election Commission and the SIR process. He also alleged that the protests reflected patterns of unrest witnessed in countries such as Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Nepal, Sri Lanka and France, besides other parts of Europe.

Clarifying that the SIR process was not introduced during the BJP government's tenure, he said that the exercise had been conducted 12 times in the country in the past. Names of deceased voters, those who had shifted residence and voters registered at multiple places were removed from electoral rolls in accordance with constitutional provisions and legal procedures.

"Was the SIR process acceptable when it was conducted during the tenures of Jawaharlal Nehru, Indira Gandhi and Sonia Gandhi, but becomes unacceptable when the BJP is in power? This reflects the Congress party's mindset," he remarked.

Explaining the administrative mechanism behind the revision, Kamath said that nearly 99 per cent of the work was carried out by officials from departments under the State Government, including Revenue and Education. The process was conducted with the participation and consent of Booth Level Agents (BLAs) appointed by various political parties at the BLA-1 and BLA-2 levels, ensuring transparency, he said.

He expressed disappointment over the Congress questioning the credibility of officials, from Booth Level Officers (BLOs) to senior authorities, who had worked extensively under considerable pressure to complete the exercise. He also questioned why the Congress was directing its allegations against the Central Government when the majority of the administrative work was undertaken by State Government officials.

Kamath further pointed out that the Congress had accepted electoral outcomes in Karnataka, Kerala, Tamil Nadu, Telangana and Himachal Pradesh when it emerged victorious, while the BJP had accepted the people's mandate in states where it had lost. He questioned the Congress's criticism of the Election Commission in the present circumstances.

Referring to Kerala, he claimed that the state’s Chief minister had acknowledged the role of the SIR exercise in the party's electoral victory. He also cited Karnataka Minister Satish Jarkiholi's earlier statement acknowledging that the SIR process had been conducted properly in the state, alleging that the Congress leadership subsequently pressured him to make a different statement.

Taking aim at the Congress over its allegations of 'vote theft', Kamath said that the party itself had a history of undermining democratic choices. Referring to the selection of independent India's first Prime Minister, he claimed that Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel had secured a clear majority in the internal Congress election, but Jawaharlal Nehru was made Prime Minister instead.

He said that questioning the people's electoral mandate and creating suspicion about constitutional institutions amounted to a betrayal of the Constitution. He demanded that Congress leaders publicly apologise for their allegations, warning that the party could face even greater political rejection in the future if it continued with such an approach.

BJP Mandal president Ramesh Kandettu, general secretaries Ramesh Hegde and Lalesh Kumar, District general secretary Premananda Shetty, secretary Poornima M, Mandal Mahila Morcha president Poornima Rao, Minority Morcha president Deepak D'Souza, former MUDA chairman Ravishankar Mijar, former Fisheries Development Corporation chairman Nithin Kumar and Mandal secretary Sumathi Chandrashekhar were present.