Bengaluru, July 15 (IANS) Karnataka Leader of the Opposition, R. Ashoka, on Wednesday, alleged that the state government was attempting to issue Permanent Resident Certificates (PRCs) to people from Bangladesh and other countries to create a vote bank and retain voters in the state.
Speaking to reporters in Bengaluru at the Lok Bhavan, Ashoka said a representation had been submitted to Governor Thaawarchand Gehlot, urging him to intervene and prevent the state government from issuing PRCs.
He alleged that the government was planning to grant PRCs to Bangladeshi nationals and confer on them the status of permanent residents. To prevent this, he said, the BJP had submitted a memorandum to the Governor.
According to Ashoka, by issuing PRCs and projecting them as residents, the government would make them eligible for benefits such as ration cards, health cards, housing, and other welfare schemes.
Ashoka further alleged that the activities of banned and extremist-linked organisations such as the Popular Front of India (PFI) and Karnataka Forum for Dignity (KFD) had already increased in the state. He claimed that granting voting rights to such individuals under these circumstances could lead to an increase in extremist and terrorist activities.
Referring to the ongoing Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls, Ashoka stated that Indians would get rights through the exercise. In contradiction to this, PRCs are being given. It is not known whether the people receiving PRCs are from Pakistan, Nigeria, or Bangladesh.
Ashoka said issuing PRCs at this juncture was inappropriate and maintained that only the Central government has the authority to issue such certificates.
He alleged that the move was intended to retain voters for local body elections, including the Greater Bengaluru Authority (GBA) and Zilla Panchayats, and described it as an “anti-national” exercise.
He said Governor Gehlot had assured the BJP delegation that the government would be cautioned over the issue.
Responding to questions on drought relief, Ashoka questioned the state government’s handling of funds received under the State Disaster Response Fund (SDRF). He said that to secure assistance under the National Disaster Response Fund (NDRF), the government must first declare drought-hit areas and submit reports on crop loss, drinking water scarcity, and fodder shortages.
“Has the government gone bankrupt? Is the State treasury empty?” he asked, while criticising Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar’s letter to the Centre seeking drought assistance.
Ashoka also alleged that Karnataka was releasing Cauvery water to Tamil Nadu “secretly” and accused the state government of attempting to shift the blame onto the Union government.
He urged the government to immediately declare a drought and provide financial assistance to farmers, in addition to addressing drinking water and livestock-related issues.
–IANS
mka/dan