Bengaluru, October 3: Karnataka BJP president B.Y. Vijayendra on Saturday demanded the withdrawal of police cases registered against party workers who submitted Form-7 applications during the ongoing Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls, alleging that the cases were filed under political pressure.
Vijayendra made the demand after leading a BJP delegation to meet Karnataka Director General and Inspector General of Police M.A. Saleem in Bengaluru. The delegation submitted a memorandum seeking that complaints related to Form-7 applications be dealt with strictly in accordance with the law and without political interference.
Vijayendra said Form-7 is an Election Commission-prescribed mechanism that allows objections to be raised against names in electoral rolls when they are alleged to be ineligible, duplicated or otherwise included in violation of the rules.
He alleged that BJP workers who submitted Form-7 applications were being targeted with police cases after Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar and other ministers approached the Election Commission over the alleged misuse of the provision.
"We will not sit quietly. We are ready to go to any extent to protect our workers. The cases registered unjustly must be withdrawn. Otherwise, we will have to launch a protest, including demonstrations in front of police stations," Vijayendra said.
The BJP state president also accused the state government of attempting to use the police department for political purposes and called for the withdrawal of cases against party workers.
"The Chief Minister is trying to indulge in goondaism and dadagiri... But power does not belong to anyone's father's house. The misuse of power must stop," Vijayendra said.
He warned that the BJP would launch a statewide agitation if, what he alleged was political interference in the matter continued.
"Protecting our workers is our responsibility. If the cases against them are not withdrawn, we will intensify our statewide agitation," he said.
The BJP delegation that met the DGP-IGP included former Chief Minister B.S. Yediyurappa, Vijayendra, Leader of Opposition in the Assembly R. Ashoka and Leader of Opposition in the Legislative Council Chalavadi Narayanaswamy. Several BJP MPs, MLAs and MLCs were also part of the delegation, including Mahalakshmi Layout MLA K. Gopalaiah.
The BJP's demand comes amid a broader political dispute in Karnataka over the use of Form-7 during the ongoing SIR exercise. Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar has alleged attempts to misuse Form-7 applications to delete eligible voters, while the BJP has rejected the allegation and maintained that filing Form-7 applications is a legitimate part of the electoral-roll revision process.
The Karnataka Chief Electoral Officer has directed election officials to initiate legal action against those who knowingly submit false claims or objections in electoral-roll applications, including Form-7.
Police cases have been registered in different parts of Karnataka over allegations involving attempts to use Form-7 applications to delete voter names. Investigations into the complaints are underway.
