Intro
Minority groups condemn Eshwarappa, Kumaraswamy remarks over SIR assistance centres, defend awareness campaigns for voter participation
Shivamogga
The Shivamogga Peace Organisation and the State Minority Protection Forum have strongly condemned the statements made by former Deputy Chief Minister K.S. Eshwarappa and Union Minister H.D. Kumaraswamy, who expressed doubts over assistance centres being run by Muslim organisations to support the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) process.
Addressing a press conference on Tuesday, Shivamogga Peace Organisation and State Minority Protection Forum president Riyaz Ahmed challenged the leaders to present specific information and facts if they had any concerns regarding the awareness and assistance activities conducted by Muslim organisations in support of the SIR campaign.
Riyaz Ahmed said that many Booth Level Officers (BLOs) involved in the SIR process still lack complete information, which has resulted in confusion while filling out enumeration forms. He explained that assistance centres were established by Muslim organisations in areas with a significant Muslim population to provide correct information to citizens and encourage their active participation in the SIR process.
Questioning the criticism of these centres, he asked why Kumaraswamy and Eshwarappa were suspicious of organisations helping people understand and complete the process. He said such support initiatives should be viewed as public service activities aimed at improving awareness among voters.
He stressed that the SIR process is not limited to any political party, religion, or community, but is connected to the constitutional right of universal voting and the principles of democracy. He questioned why assistance centres run by one community were being viewed with suspicion while similar initiatives by other groups were accepted.
Riyaz Ahmed alleged that raising doubts about Muslim organisations’ participation created unnecessary mistrust and confusion among citizens. He urged political leaders to avoid making statements that could affect social harmony and instead support efforts to strengthen democratic participation.
The press conference was attended by State Minority Protection Forum members Imran Khan, Maksur, Anis Iqbal, Sufi, Saifulla, and Zakavulla, among others. They reiterated their commitment to creating awareness among people and ensuring that eligible citizens participate effectively in the SIR process.