Congress creating hurdles for SIR in State, says Bellad

Deputy Leader of Opposition in the Assembly Arvind Bellad has said that the Congress is creating hurdles for the ongoing Special Intensive Revision (SIR) and it has no authority to issue Permanent Residency Certificates (PRCs).

Addressing a press conference in Hubballi on Saturday, Mr. Bellad took exception to the State government issuing Permanent Residence Certificates to residents and said that citizenship is an issue to be decided by the Union government and the State government did not have the authority to any such certifying permanent residency of citizens.

Mr. Bellad said that enumeration forms are being filled in mosques, churches and the residences of Congress legislators thus, defeating the very purpose of conducting the SIR. He said that after the completion of SIR, data will be available on the number of Bangladeshi and Pakistani infiltrators in the State.

He also said that although Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar wore Vibhuti and Kumkum on his forehead, he always thought of Muslims in his mind. He also urged the Congress not to stand up in favour of infiltrators.

Hubballi-Dharwad Central MLA Mahesh Tenginakai said that the Congress-led government in the State is manipulating the SIR process after having indulged in many violations during the mapping process.

He said that the SIR process in the State is not being conducted properly and enumeration forms are being distributed in mosques. Taking exception to the State government issuing PRCs, he said that by issuing such certificates, the State government is trying to protect infiltrators. He demanded that the circular on PRCs should be withdrawn immediately.

On Home Minister Priyank Kharge’s stand on the RSS, he said that instead of speaking on the RSS, Mr. Kharge should focus on identifying and deporting infiltrators.