Karnataka’s Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls has triggered concerns over alleged attempts to delete large numbers of voter names through Form 7 applications, with voters in Bhalki, Vijayapura, and Belagavi alleging that Muslim electors have been disproportionately targeted. In the Bhalki Assembly constituency, more than 500 such applications were filed across four polling stations in Nittur (B), while over 1,000 Muslim voters are facing objections at six polling stations in Bhalki town, the Hindustan Times reported.
It further reported that the residents stated that the applications contain their voter details but were filed by people who do not live in the village; furthermore, the voters who lived in Nittur for decades were stated to be permanently shifted or absent.
While talking to the Hindustan Times, Mukhtar Bidre, hailing from Nittur, said that the residents started checking the applications on learning about them on September 21.
“The forms contain voters’ names and EPIC numbers along with applicant names, mobile numbers, and signatures, but no date of submission. When we call the mobile numbers mentioned, they are found to be from the Mysuru and Bengaluru areas. There appears to be an attempt to create fake documents and deprive us of our voting rights,” he said as reported by the Hindustan Times.
“For at least the last 15 years, I have been the Booth Level Agent (BLA) here at polling station 196 in the Belagavi North Assembly constituency. But last week, when I saw at least 380 Form-7 applications at the school, I was shocked to find my name and my brother’s, along with those of our relatives and neighbors, sought to be deleted,” said Meersab Sanadi, BLA at Veerabhadra Urdu Model School in Belagavi’s 7th Cross, as reported by The Hindu.
Meanwhile, on Saturday, hundreds of Muslim voters gathered at the Nittur (B) Gram Panchayat office during a Praja Seva Andolana program questioning how such a large number of forms were accepted.
Meantime, the Bulk Form 7 applications prompted Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar to seek a comprehensive probe into the matter, which included a criminal investigation as well.
“There is a need for a comprehensive investigation and a criminal investigation within the framework of law into this matter,” Shivakumar
“If this is happening in the constituencies of our MLAs, it indicates that a major conspiracy is taking place across the state,” he said.
“I have a responsibility as the chief minister to protect your right to vote,” Shivakumar said.
