Karnataka minister Satish Jarkiholi on Friday clarified that his remarks appearing to endorse the electoral roll Special Intensive Revision (SIR) were misinterpreted, after the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) used them to attack Congress leader Rahul Gandhi and the party’s opposition to the exercise.
“This was achieved through the efforts of our national leader, Rahul Gandhi, and under the guidance of the Honourable Chief Minister, DK Shivakumar. Jarkiholi maintained his point was that the BJP’s conspiracy to remove Congress-supporting voters in Karnataka using Form 7, a tactic observed in other states as well, was successfully thwarted.
I did not, however, imply that the SIR process itself is correct or valid,” he said. “The message is clear: even Congress leaders recognise the need for a clean voter roll, exposing Rahul Gandhi’s anti-democratic politics.”
His comments were interpreted as an endorsement of the process in Karnataka, amid Congress’s protests against the alleged irregularities in the process and demands for chief election commissioner Gyanesh Kumar’s removal. “We argue that it should happen in the same manner in other states. Because of their protests and training, he said the SIR in Karnataka was done in the right manner.
When asked about the party’s protests, Jarkiholi said: “What we are talking about is not [SIR] in Karnataka, but elsewhere like West Bengal, Maharashtra and Bihar. Earlier reporting noted: “Misinterpreted”: Karnataka Minister As BJP Uses SIR Remark To Attack Rahul Gandhi “Misinterpreted”: Karnataka Minister As BJP Uses SIR Remark To Attack Rahul Gandhi “Misinterpreted”: Karnataka Minister As BJP Uses SIR Remark To Attack Rahul Gandhi Earlier reporting noted: Amid Congress’ stiff opposition to SIR, Satish Jarkiholi’s earlier statement was seen as an endorsement of the exercise carried out in the state. Earlier reporting noted: A day after the BJP used his reported statement on (Special Intensive Revision) SIR to attack the Congress and Rahul Gandhi, Karnataka Minister Satish Jarkiholi has clarified that his statement on the voter list revision was “misinterpreted”.
Amid Congress’ stiff opposition to SIR, Satish Jarkiholi’s earlier statement was seen as an endorsement of the exercise carried out in the state. The clarification came after Jarkiholi remarks on Wednesday appeared to distinguish Karnataka’s SIR exercise from those conducted in other states.
The BJP seized on the remarks to accuse the Congress of contradicting Rahul Gandhi’s opposition to SIR. “Congress leaders are increasingly contradicting Rahul Gandhi’s anti-SIR stand. In a post on X, the party said Jarkiholi defended the Karnataka exercise and justified the removal of nearly 10 million names on grounds that voters were dead, had relocated or were duplicates.
Karnataka Cabinet Minister Satish Jarkiholi defended Karnataka’s SIR process, justifying deletions of nearly one crore names, citing duplicate, deceased and relocated voters,” the BJP said.
He said he stands firmly with their leader, Rahul Gandhi, in protecting democratic values and the right to vote.
Jarkiholi appealed to people not to interpret his earlier remarks as support for the SIR process.
