Bengaluru: Karnataka BJP President and MLA B.Y. Vijayendra on Saturday met Director General and Inspector General of Police (DG-IGP) M.A. Saleem and urged the police department to withdraw FIRs registered against BJP workers in connection with Form-7 applications, alleging that the cases were filed under pressure from the state government.
The delegation led by Vijayendra included former Chief Minister and BJP Central Parliamentary Committee member B.S. Yediyurappa, Leader of the Opposition in the Assembly R. Ashoka, Leader of the Opposition in the Council Chalavadi Narayanaswamy, former Deputy Chief Minister and BJP MLA C.N. Ashwath Narayan, MLAs Byrathi Basavaraj, S.R. Vishwanath and K. Gopalaiah, MP P.C. Mohan and other party leaders.
BJP defends Form-7 applications
Speaking to reporters after meeting the DG-IGP, Vijayendra said submitting Form-7 was a legal provision available to citizens under Election Commission rules and that raising objections to names in electoral rolls was part of the electoral process.
“Any person can submit Form-7 if there are ineligible or irregular names in the electoral roll. The Election Commission examines the application and takes action if the objection is found valid. If the objection is not justified, it is rejected. This is a normal part of the electoral process,” he said.
Vijayendra alleged that the state government was using the police department to register FIRs against BJP workers under the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) for exercising the provision.
He further alleged that the FIRs were registered after the Chief Minister and ministers staged a protest before the Election Commission and subsequently exerted pressure on the police.
Vijayendra demands withdrawal of FIRs
Vijayendra said the BJP would defend its workers and demanded that the cases he described as unjust be withdrawn.
“We will not remain silent. Protecting our workers is our responsibility, and we are ready to go to any extent to defend them. The cases registered unjustly against our workers must be withdrawn. Otherwise, we will be forced to launch protests, including outside police stations,” he said.
BJP warns of statewide agitation
Reacting to Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar’s statements regarding the formation of an SIT, Vijayendra said being in power did not give the government the right to use the police system at its discretion.
He accused the Chief Minister of attempting to misuse his position and called for an end to what he described as political interference in the functioning of the police department.
“Power is not anyone’s family property. The misuse of power should be stopped,” Vijayendra said.
He warned that if the state government continued with what he termed its current approach, the BJP would launch a statewide agitation.
Vijayendra also demanded that political interference in the police department be avoided and that the FIRs registered against BJP workers be withdrawn.