Congress is creating hurdles for SIR in the state, says Bellad

Deputy Leader of Opposition in Assembly Arvind Bellad and MLA Mahesh Tenginakai at a press conference in Hubballi on Saturday. | Photo credit: KIRAN BAKALE

Deputy Leader of Opposition in the Assembly Arvind Bellad said the Congress is creating hurdles for the ongoing Special Intensive Review (SIR) and has no power to issue Permanent Resident Certificates (PRCs).

At a press conference in Hubballi on Saturday, Mr. Bellad took exception to the state government issuing permanent residence certificates to residents, saying citizenship was a matter for the Union government to decide and the state government had no power to make any such confirmation of permanent residence of citizens.

Mr. Bellad said enumeration forms are being filled in mosques, churches and residences of Congress legislators, defeating the very purpose of conducting SIR. He said that after the completion of the SIR, the data on the number of Bangladeshi and Pakistani infiltrators in the state would be available.

He also said that though Chief Minister DK Shivakumar wore Vibhuti and Kumkum on his forehead, he always thought of Muslims in his mind. He also urged Congress not to side with the infiltrators.

Hubballi-Dharwad Central MLA Mahesh Tenginakai said that the Congress-led government in the state is manipulating the SIR process after committing many violations during the mapping process.

He said the SIR process in the state is not being done properly and census forms are being distributed in mosques. He took exception to the state government issuing the PRC, saying that by issuing such certificates, the state government was trying to protect infiltrators. He demanded that the PRC circular be withdrawn immediately.

On Home Minister Priyank Kharge’s stance on RSS, he said that instead of talking about RSS, Mr. Kharge should focus on identifying and deporting infiltrators.

Published – 12 Jul 2026 18:31 IST