Tumakuru: Home minister G Parameshwara on Tuesday rejected the claim that 19 lakh Bangladeshi nationals are living in Karnataka, including 4.5 lakh in Bengaluru, saying such figures must be backed by credible official data.
Speaking to reporters in Tumakuru, Parameshwara said the Election Commission’s ongoing Special Intensive Revision (SIR) process would provide more clarity.
“If the SIR data confirms the presence of 19 lakh Bangladeshi nationals, appropriate action will be taken. We cannot cite figures without any evidence,” he said.
On the state’s demand for drought relief, the minister said Karnataka was yet to receive a response from the Centre despite submitting a detailed request.
“If the Centre refuses to release drought relief even after receiving the report, we will stage protests and, if necessary, approach the court,” Parameshwara said.
He added that a comprehensive drought assessment would be conducted in Karnataka as per the Centre’s guidelines. The state government plans to complete the survey and submit a detailed report to the Centre by the end of August, seeking financial assistance.