BJP threatens agitation over Form 7 cases across K’taka
Here's the latest protest news from across India:
The BJP on Sunday threatened a statewide agitation if police take legal action against its workers over bulk filing of Form 7 applications during Karnataka’s Special Intensive Revision of electoral rolls, escalating the political fight over alleged attempts to delete voters.
Adding to this, Former chief minister and senior BJP leader B S Yediyurappa issued the warning (PTI) Former chief minister and senior BJP leader B S Yediyurappa issued the warning after a party delegation led by him met Director General and Inspector General of Police M A Saleem and sought protection for workers facing police cases. The delegation included state BJP president B Y Vijayendra, Leader of Opposition R Ashoka, Council Opposition leader Chalavadi Narayanaswamy, MPs, MLAs and MLCs.
Meanwhile, He alleged that the police were acting at the behest of Chief Minister DK Shivakumar and shared officers should act according to law rather than work to please the government.
Notably, The BJP’s intervention came as police registered another case linked to the Form 7 row in Bengaluru. The Vyalikaval police have registered an FIR following a complaint by Congress leader Anoop Iyengar over 778 applications seeking deletion of voters in the Malleswaram Assembly constituency.
As per the latest buzz, G S Vasanthalakshmi, identified in the FIR as a BJP member, has been named accused No. 1. Another person, described as being associated with an RSS wing, has been listed as an unidentified accused. The complaint alleges that the applications sought deletion of voters who had in fact cast their votes, by describing them as having shifted residence or as otherwise ineligible. The 778 applications were spread across eight polling parts.
In further updates, Ashoka defended the submission of Form 7 applications and shared the validity of individual applications should be decided by election authorities. “Submitting Form 7 is not a crime. It is the Election Commission, not the police station, that has to determine the truth and validity of a voter,” he shared.
On top of that, The BJP’s warning follows a direction from Karnataka Chief Electoral Officer V Anbukkumar to Electoral Registration Officers in all 224 Assembly constituencies to act against applicants who knowingly make false statements or declarations in Forms 6, 6A, 7 and 8.
In a circular issued on October 1, Anbukkumar directed EROs to take action under Section 31 of the Representation of the People Act, 1950, after an inquiry under Rule 20 of the Registration of Electors Rules, 1960.
Source: Hindustan Times