Chitradurga: Former minister and Legislative Council member Dr. Ravi C.T. has urged the Election Commission to conduct a comprehensive investigation into complaints of alleged irregularities in voter lists, including the deletion of existing names and the illegal inclusion of new entries.
Speaking to reporters in Chitradurga, Ravi claimed that a majority of the names deleted from the voter list belonged to Hindu voters. He cited the Chikkamagaluru constituency, where around 32,000 names were reportedly removed, and alleged that a significant number of those deleted were Hindu voters. He also questioned the Congress party’s allegations that minority voters were being targeted through deletions.
Ravi called for a probe into complaints of illegal additions to the electoral rolls and urged the Election Commission to identify those who allegedly submitted documents and facilitated the inclusion of Bangladeshi nationals in the voter list through unlawful means.
He maintained that filing objections to voter entries using Form 7 was a legitimate part of the electoral process and not a criminal act. The provision allows objections to be raised for verification of entries relating to deceased persons, individuals who have relocated, duplicate registrations and other suspicious entries, he said.
Ravi also questioned the protest staged outside the election office under the leadership of Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar over the revision of voter lists. He expressed suspicion about the reasons for holding the protest when allegations of irregularities required investigation.
Ganeshotsava should promote social harmony:
Commenting on the Ganeshotsava procession in Chitradurga, Ravi said the festival should go beyond religious celebrations and become a platform for social awareness and unity.
He said the worship of Lord Ganesha should foster a sense of kinship and collective identity, while encouraging people to work towards eliminating caste discrimination and untouchability.
Calling for the spirit of unity to be nurtured in every household, Ravi urged people to reject caste-based divisions and stand together in the larger interest of society and the nation.
