Bengaluru, June 30 (UNI)

Karnataka Home Minister Priyank Kharge on Tuesday launched a scathing attack on the Election Commission, alleging that it had become a "puppet in the hands of the government" and claiming the ongoing Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls was being used as a political exercise to help the ruling dispensation retain power.

Addressing reporters here, Kharge questioned the independence of the constitutional body, accusing it of ignoring serious legal and constitutional objections raised by the Karnataka government while proceeding with the voter roll revision.

"The Chief Election Commissioner and the Election Commission are puppets in the hands of the government. It is very clear that the government has no popular vote among the people. That is why they are resorting to these kinds of exercises to ensure they remain in power," he alleged.

Kharge said the Congress had submitted 12 objections to the manner in which the Special Intensive Revision was being carried out and had expected the Election Commission to respond to the concerns formally conveyed by the Karnataka Chief Secretary.

"We had raised 12 clear objections and were expecting the Election Commission to reply to what our Chief Secretary had written. Unfortunately, they have not done so," he said.

According to Kharge, the objections involved legal, constitutional and procedural issues, including the need for greater transparency in the electoral roll revision process.

"We have asked legal questions and constitutional questions. We have asked them to revise the entire process, make it transparent, ensure software audits are conducted transparently and ensure the entire exercise is carried out transparently. Unfortunately, they have chosen not to reply. We will evaluate the situation and decide our next course of action in the coming days," he said.

Kharge also questioned the basis on which voters were being identified for verification, criticising the use of the term "logical discrepancy", which he said lacked a clear definition.

"What is the definition of logical discrepancy? Does anybody know? In the name of logical discrepancy, anybody can be left out," he said, warning that vague criteria could result in the exclusion of genuine voters.

Maintaining that the Congress was not opposed to cleansing the electoral rolls, Kharge said the Election Commission's primary responsibility was to ensure that every eligible citizen remained on the voter list.

"It is the responsibility of the Election Commission to maintain a hygienic voter list. We are not asking them to include non-citizens. We are only saying that no citizen should be left behind," he said.

Replying to a separate question on notices issued over his remarks on the RSS, Kharge alleged that such actions were intended to intimidate critics.

"There is nothing new about these notices. Every time we question the RSS logically or raise issues concerning it, they use such means to counter us, keep us quiet and intimidate us," he said.

He asserted that legal notices would not deter him from questioning the organisation's activities. "When they cannot answer you legally or logically, this is how they go. They want to silence us. They are mistaken if they think they are going to stop us from asking questions about the RSS and its operations. I have nothing to fear as long as the Constitution is by my side," he added.

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