Congress use Bangladeshi immigrants as vote bank: K’taka LoP

Mysuru, July 11 (IANS) Senior Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader and Karnataka Leader of the Opposition R. Ashoka on Saturday launched a sharp attack on Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar, describing him as a “mask Chief Minister”.

Ashoka alleged that Shivakumar was misleading the people of Karnataka and claimed that illegal immigrants from Bangladesh had become the Karnataka government’s vote bank.

He was speaking at a felicitation ceremony for newly elected MLC Raghu R. Kautilya, organised by the Federation of Working Communities in Mysuru at G.K. Grounds. He accused the Karnataka government of pursuing vote bank politics.

Ashoka said the BJP had nominated Raghu R. Kautilya to the Legislative Council as part of its commitment to providing political representation to backward and marginalised communities.

He urged citizens to participate in the ongoing Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls to ensure that only eligible citizens remain on the voters’ list.

“There are lakhs of Bangladeshi and Pakistani nationals living in India, and many of them are allegedly availing government benefits,” Ashoka claimed.

He further alleged that West Bengal former Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee had extended government benefits to Bangladeshi immigrants and accused the Karnataka government of attempting to include Bangladeshi nationals in the state’s electoral rolls by issuing permanent residence certificates.

Ashoka said this must be stopped immediately and added that only the Central Government has the authority to grant citizenship. He also alleged that a countercampaign was underway against the Special Intensive Revision, and that support was being extended to those attempting to undermine the country’s laws.

Continuing his attack on CM Shivakumar, Ashoka took a swipe at the Chief Minister over government tenders.

“DK stands for Tender because, despite being in office for only a short period, he has floated tenders worth several years’ work. He himself became Chief Minister through a ‘tender.’ Rahul Gandhi floated the tender, and now D.K. Shivakumar has secured it,” Ashoka remarked.

Leader of the Opposition in the Legislative Council, Chalavadi Narayanaswamy, said the BJP has consistently worked to empower working-class communities and ensure their political representation.

–IANS

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