Karnataka Minister Defends SIR Remarks, Accuses BJP of Form 7 and Voter-Roll Deletions

Bengaluru – In a press briefing, the Karnataka minister said his earlier comments about SIR were taken out of context and offered a detailed clarification. He asserted that the statements were intended to address administrative concerns rather than political criticism.
He further accused the Bharatiya Janata Party of misusing Form 7, alleging that the party filed the form to challenge the inclusion of certain voters and subsequently pushed for the deletion of names from the electoral roll. The minister warned that such actions could undermine the integrity of the state's electoral process.
The minister called for a transparent review of the Form 7 filings and urged the Election Commission to ensure that any deletions are based on verifiable legal grounds, not partisan motives. He emphasized that safeguarding voter rights remains a priority for the state government.
Opposition leaders have yet to respond publicly, and the Election Commission has not commented on the allegations. The issue is expected to feature in upcoming discussions in the Karnataka Legislative Assembly.
The controversy adds to ongoing tensions between the state government and the BJP over electoral reforms and voter registration procedures.