Actor Prakash Raj says the Particular Intensive Revision (SIR) course of has questioned his dignity as a voter and he won’t stand within the queue to enrol as a contemporary voter.
“They’re questioning the dignity of my vote,” he instructed The Telegraph On-line on Tuesday afternoon from Bengaluru.
“Each 5 years they arrive to us begging for votes and now I’ve to beg for my proper to vote. They’re asking us to face in queues. Yeh kya drama chal raha hai [What is this drama]?” Raj mentioned.
“I’ll go to the courtroom. You can’t snatch my vote. As a citizen voting is the one proper that I’ve. Who gave them the correct to place us, a complete nation right into a trauma like this?”
One of many sharpest critics of the the Sangh Parivar and the BJP-led authorities of Prime Minister Narendra Modi within the Centre, Raj’s identify appeared on the ASDDO (absent, shifted, lifeless, duplicate and others) checklist as “completely shifted” from Bangalore Central’s Shantinagar constituency through the ongoing SIR course of in Karnataka.
In 2019, Raj had contested the Lok Sabha election as an unbiased candidate from the identical constituency.
The Bengaluru Central Metropolis Company in an announcement on Wednesday mentioned the actor’s identify was marked “shifted” after a door-to-door verification revealed that he was now not staying on the residence.
“The BLO carried out an official inquiry with the neighbours and the property supervisor. It was additionally confirmed by the proprietor of the flat via cell name that actor Prakash Raj is just not residing within the mentioned flat for previous 4 years and presently different tenants are residing,” the assertion mentioned.
The civic physique in its assertion mentioned the commissioner and extra district election officer (central) Jagadish G. spoke with the actor over cellphone.
“The actor confirms he’s not residing on the mentioned handle however residing in Shantinagar Meeting constituency in a distinct handle. Later, via BLO Kind-6 could also be processed within the current residing handle. It’s hereby knowledgeable that the allegations made by Prakash Raj are verified and located not true,” the civic physique mentioned within the assertion.
The BJP’s Karnataka unit was fast to publish a fact-check citing the civic physique’s assertion.
“I made the publish within the morning [Tuesday] and acquired a name final night time,” Raj mentioned. “Why are they asking me to fill Kind-6? Kind-6 is for inclusion of recent voters and Kind-8 is for these voters who need their handle to be modified. Why will I apply for a brand new voter card?
“Why ought to I stand in a queue to change into a citizen once more? They instructed me to fill Kind-6. I requested, why? I cannot submit Kind-6,” the 61-year-old five-time nationwide award successful actor mentioned.
“If a voter has shifted, ask the place they’ve shifted, ask them to indicate related paperwork and replace the electoral rolls. Who gave them the correct to delete the names of voters in keeping with their whims and fancies?”
The final date for the door-to-door verification in Karnataka has been prolonged twice already. First the deadline was moved from July 29 to August 8 and once more revised to August 17. The draft voter checklist is scheduled to be revealed on August 24 and the ultimate rolls on October 27.
Karnataka has 5,54,32,314 electors and enumeration types of 4,45,18,538 have been signed and picked up by the sales space stage officers. Beneath the class of ASDDO 1,09,13,776 electors have been marked.
Round 65,85,791 (11.88 per cent) of these beneath ASDDO have been within the “everlasting shifted” class together with the actor.
Raj clarified he was not towards the SIR train.
“SIR is required however the course of is unsuitable. It’s going to take at the least 18 months to carry out and full the duty. Why this rush to finish it in three months? There aren’t any elections scheduled now. Take time. All authorities officers are working as BLOs and different work is struggling. The each day wage earners are operating round to search out paperwork. An 83-year-old girl was requested the place her grandmother had voted,” he mentioned.
“Am I not allowed to ask these questions? BLOs have died by suicide. They’re accountable for these suicides.”
On July 5, a BLO recognized as Sunil (48) from Bhalki Taluk died from a coronary heart assault whereas on SIR obligation at Amalapur village in Karnataka’s Bidar. One other BLO recognized as Nataraj died equally in Bangalore South. Comparable instances of BLOs succumbing to alleged SIR-related stress have been reported from Bengal, Kerala, Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh and different elements of the nation. In Bengal a number of voters took their lives allegedly over the worry of shedding their voting rights.
“In Bengal [nearly] 1 crore voters couldn’t vote. A authorities received elected the place voters couldn’t vote. If I don’t submit the shape as they’re asking, will they cease gathering taxes from me? I’ve voted all these years. I contested within the Lok Sabha elections from this very seat (Bangalore Central) in 2019. I’ve seen the Supreme Courtroom judgment on SIR. I do know in regards to the varieties. I’ve questions and I need solutions,” mentioned Raj.
“I wish to begin a dialogue (on the SIR course of).”
