Bengaluru, March 14: The Karnataka BJP has expressed serious concerns regarding the potential inclusion of Pakistani and Bangladeshi citizens in the voter list, stating that it poses a significant threat to national security.
During a press conference in Bengaluru, R. Ashok, the leader of the opposition in the Karnataka Assembly, emphasized that the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of the Voter List should not allow the addition of fraudulent votes.
Ashok claimed that numerous individuals from Pakistan and Bangladesh have already entered Karnataka. He warned that if their names are added to the voter list, they would gain rights akin to permanent citizens, thereby jeopardizing national security.
He mentioned that this issue was also discussed in a recent workshop, where measures to prevent such names from being included in the voter list were considered. Ashok participated in this workshop as well.
Targeting Chief Minister Siddaramaiah, Ashok remarked that despite the Chief Minister’s claims of being a socialist and opposing caste and dynastic politics, he recently appealed to the public for political support for his son.
Ashok quipped, “People have taken care of him until now, and now he is asking them to take care of his son. If, in a few months, he asks them to take care of his grandson too, wouldn’t that turn our democratic system into a monarchy?”
He noted that historically, kings would declare their sons as heirs, and similar political dynamics seem to be emerging in the current democratic framework.
Ashok reiterated that B.R. Ambedkar abolished the monarchy to establish a democratic system, urging leaders to earn the public’s trust through elections rather than promoting family members.
On the issue of LPG cylinder misuse, he stated that necessary services have been implemented under the Maintenance of Essential Services Act, and the state government should take stringent measures to curb black marketing.
He appealed to the public for cooperation during the ongoing crisis, accusing the Chief Minister of politicizing issues even in challenging times.
Ashok also alleged that frequent dinner meetings are being held by the Chief Minister’s camp, highlighting the disparity between the struggles of ordinary citizens and the lavish gatherings within the government.
He claimed that some Congress leaders are privately dissatisfied with the state budget and are informally discussing its shortcomings.