Pralhad Joshi slams DK Shivakumar for protest outside CEO office, says focus on drought, farmers
Union Minister Pralhad Joshi criticises CM DK Shivakumar for protesting at the CEO office instead of addressing drought and farmer issues in Karnataka.
Union Minister Pralhad Joshi has launched a scathing attack on Karnataka Chief Minister DK Shivakumar, accusing him of prioritising political drama over the severe hardships faced by the state's citizens.
The controversy erupted after the Chief Minister, accompanied by six Cabinet ministers, staged a protest outside the office of the Chief Electoral Officer (CEO) in Bengaluru on Thursday. Joshi slammed the move, suggesting that the government's focus should remain on the state's mounting crises rather than electoral disputes.
Focus on Drought and Farmers, Not Protests
In a strongly worded post on X, Pralhad Joshi expressed his regret over the Chief Minister's actions. He argued that the leadership should be working on practical solutions for the state's pressing problems.
“Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar, who should be focusing on finding solutions to the drought in the state, the plight of farmers, and the burning issues faced by the people, suddenly staging a protest in front of the office of the Chief Electoral Officer of Karnataka in Bengaluru is extremely regrettable,” Joshi stated.
Joshi further accused the Karnataka government of neglecting the basic needs of the populace and the dire drought situation. He described the protest as a calculated attempt to mislead the public, suggesting it was a "drama" designed to protect "dubious voters" and appease "fake Gandhis."
Allegations of Electoral Irregularities
The protest by the Karnataka government stems from allegations regarding the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) process. The state government has claimed there has been a mass deletion of voters during the ongoing electoral-roll revision.
During the demonstration, Shivakumar and his ministers met with CEO V Anbukkumar to demand:
- The immediate registration of an FIR regarding alleged irregularities.
- A time-bound criminal investigation into the bulk submission of fraudulent Form 7 objections.
However, Joshi defended the integrity of the process, noting that election officials, Booth Level Agents (BLAs), and Booth Level Officers (BLOs) are well-versed in the protocols. He emphasized that the Election Commission continuously monitors matters such as Form 7 and the revision of electoral rolls.
Questions Over Police Action and Legal Violations
The Union Minister also raised questions regarding law enforcement in Bengaluru. He pointed out that protests are generally restricted to Freedom Park and questioned why the police had not registered an FIR against the protesters for violating these norms.
“In Bengaluru, protests are not permitted anywhere other than Freedom Park. Why are the police, who immediately take action when others stage protests anywhere else, remaining silent without filing an FIR against these people who are sitting in protest in violation of the law?” Joshi asked.
HD Kumaraswamy Calls it a "Political Farce"
Adding to the political friction, Union Minister HD Kumaraswamy also joined the fray, labelling the Chief Minister's actions as a "political farce." He criticised the decision to cancel the scheduled Cabinet meeting to facilitate the protest.
Kumaraswamy questioned the timing of the government's sudden concern, noting that while they are now demanding arrests and FIRs over alleged injustices in the SIR process, they had remained silent when similar concerns were raised earlier. He suggested the current outcry is a strategic move to claim that BJP workers have committed irregularities.