Bengaluru: Karnataka Home Minister Priyank Kharge on Monday warned that those allegedly misusing Form-7 to seek deletion of eligible voters’ names from electoral rolls would face legal consequences, while questioning how bulk pre-printed forms were being obtained and submitted.
Speaking to reporters in Bengaluru, Kharge questioned the alleged misuse of Form-7 and said those violating electoral laws could not expect to escape action.
He asked how bulk, pre-printed forms containing voters’ names, addresses and other details were allegedly being obtained and submitted. He also claimed that in some cases, people who were alive had been shown as dead, while residents had been described as non-residents.
“If you misuse Form-7, if you possess pre-printed Form-7s in bulk, if you declare people who are alive as dead, and people who are residing here as non-residents, should we felicitate you?” Kharge said.
He further questioned how such forms were allegedly coming from BJP functionaries and warned that those who did not follow electoral laws would face action.
“If you are not following the law, I will teach you how to follow it. Why do you expect to flout the norms? How do you expect to flout the law of the land and expect that no cases will be registered against you?” he said.
Kharge questions bulk Form-7 submissions
Kharge said the issue concerned Karnataka and warned that violations of constitutional and electoral provisions would have consequences.
“This is not Gujarat, this is not Delhi, this is not UP. This is Karnataka. If you flout the Constitution, you will face consequences,” he said.
Responding to questions about action against BJP leaders and workers, including former MLAs, candidates, Booth Level Officers (BLOs) and non-BLOs, Kharge said cases were being pursued over alleged harassment of the public.
He said some individuals had subsequently approached authorities, including the Tahsildars of Chikkamagaluru, Bidar and Bhubaneswar, seeking withdrawal of Form-7 applications after allegedly being misinformed that the concerned persons were either dead or no longer residents.
“If they are doing the Election Commission’s job themselves, then what was the SIR for? This was supposed to be a Special Intensive Revision. This has become a ‘Sangh Intensive Revision’, isn’t it?” he asked.
Kharge also alleged that members of certain communities were being disproportionately targeted through Form-7 submissions.
“How is it that only one section of society is being targeted? How is it that only Muslims, Christians and Dalits are being targeted? Let the BJP answer this,” he said.
The minister said the government was receiving individual complaints and that the matter could be examined by Returning Officers and the Chief Electoral Officer.
Kharge criticises Election Commission, RSS
Kharge also commented on National Conference leader Farooq Abdullah’s remarks concerning the Election Commission, calling it a constitutional body and noting that its role had also been debated in the Constituent Assembly.
Referring to Dr B.R. Ambedkar’s observations on the Constitution, Kharge said the Constitution could function effectively only when those governing under it acted responsibly.
He alleged that the present Chief Election Commissioner had “sold his soul to the BJP”, while also saying that the Election Commission had earlier functioned effectively under leaders who respected its institutional role.
On Congress leader Digvijaya Singh’s remarks concerning Sanatana Dharma and the RSS, Kharge said there was a distinction between Hinduism and Hindutva.
He said Hinduism had existed for thousands of years, while the RSS was about a century old, and argued that the organisation could not claim to be the sole protector of the religion.
“There is a stark difference between Hinduism and Hindutva. Hindutva was started by the RSS group. Hinduism has been there for 3,000 years. So we have nothing to learn from them,” he said.