R Ashoka submits plea to Governor against proposed PRC, alleges bid to settle Congress voters permanently in Karnataka
Bengaluru, July 15: Leader of Opposition in the Karnataka Assembly R. Ashoka on Wednesday said a representation had been submitted to the Governor seeking intervention against the proposed issuance of Permanent Resident Certificates (PRC), alleging that the move was intended to enable those voting for the Congress to settle permanently in the state.
Speaking to reporters here, Ashoka objected to the PRC proposal and said the representation was submitted to the Governor seeking that such certificates should not be issued. He alleged that the government was planning to issue PRCs to those who had lived in the state for 10 years and portray them as permanent citizens of the state, thereby enabling them to receive ration cards, health cards, houses and other facilities.
Ashoka further alleged that the activities of PFI and KFD had increased in the state and claimed that cases registered against them were being withdrawn by the Congress. He also claimed that there was information suggesting that between 25 lakh and 30 lakh Bangladeshis were living in Karnataka. Referring to the ongoing SIR, he said issuing PRCs at such a time was not right and asserted that only the Central government had the authority to issue such certificates.
He alleged that the move was aimed at retaining voters for various elections, including GBA and zilla panchayat polls, and described it as an illegal and anti-national step. Ashoka said the Governor had stated that a warning would be issued to the government in this regard.
On the stampede in which 11 people died, Ashoka said the opposition had already told the Assembly that the government was directly responsible for the tragedy. He alleged that the report had now given a clean chit in the matter. He said the Commissioner and police officers had been suspended on the day of the incident, but action should also have been taken against those who were on the stage with their wives, children and grandchildren. He objected that no case had been filed against them.
“If the officers are now innocent, then who are the guilty? Where is justice for the deaths of these youths?” Ashoka asked. He alleged that efforts were being made to cover up the case and described it as unforgivable. He also said that if his party came to power in future, it would hand over the case to the CBI for investigation.
Responding to another question on drought relief, Ashoka said SDRF funds had already been received and asked what had been done with that money. He said that for NDRF funds to be released, the affected area must first be declared drought-hit. He said the state government should declare drought and release funds. He alleged that no report had been submitted on crop loss, drinking water problems or fodder shortage and questioned why a letter had then been written. He asked whether the government had become a pauper and whether the treasury was empty.
Ashoka also alleged that water was being released to Tamil Nadu secretly and accused the state government of trying to shift the blame onto the Central government through letters. He warned that this would not continue for long. He demanded that the state government immediately come to the aid of farmers, officially declare drought, and provide funds related to drinking water and cattle.
He also said it had been a month since he had written to the government seeking details of how much individual ministers had spent on house renovations. He said he had also sought information on the allowances given to the state president and vice-president of the guarantee committee, but no reply had been received. He criticised the government for not responding to any letters and alleged that while it was indulging in loot, it was not giving any answers when details were sought.
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