Yatnal denies targeting Muslim voters in Vijayapura SIR, defends objections

Expelled BJP MLA and Hindutva leader Basanagouda Patil Yatnal has rejected allegations that he and his supporters were targeting Muslim voters by filing objections against their inclusion in the electoral rolls in Vijayapura district.

He was responding to claims by Minister M.B. Patil, Congress leader A.H. Mushrif and others that his team had submitted bulk third-party objections against eligible voters from the minority community.

Speaking to reporters, Mr. Yatnal said the allegations were false. He said his team had filed objections against more than 28,300 suspect voters, including the dead, non-residents, non-Indians and duplicate voters. According to him, the objections were not based on religious affiliation, and the charges against him stemmed from opposition to his politics in the district.

He said Mr. Patil was being misled by his followers and that some leaders speaking against him were insecure about their electoral future. He also alleged that the ruling Congress was pressuring officials to reject the objections filed by the BJP and his team.

Mr. Yatnal said his only demand before the district administration handling the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) was that it probe the objections and remove ineligible voters. He said his team had followed SIR rules and submitted documents such as death certificates, copies of duplicate EPIC cards, part numbers of roll extracts and residence proof for shifted voters to the Electoral Registration Officers.

He said he did not have a clear idea of how many bulk objections had been filed in the district, adding that he could speak only about those filed by his team and by BJP office-bearers. He argued that it was for SIR officials to scrutinise the objections, report to the Election Commission of India and issue acknowledgements.

In response to a query, Mr. Yatnal said his side had not stooped to the level of some Muslim leaders he described as old hands in bogus voting, and alleged that Muslims were engaging in goondagiri. He claimed Hindus had never committed offences such as bogus voting.

He said he remained on friendly terms with Mr. Patil at community functions and in local cooperative matters, but that the two were political rivals. He advised Mr. Patil to distance himself from associates he accused of creating false land records in Vijayapura without the knowledge or consent of the actual owners, and alleged that former Superintendent of Police Hrishikesh Sonawane, who was investigating such cases, had been transferred by these forces.