BJP warns of police station sieges over Form 7 dispute

The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) in Karnataka has threatened to siege police stations and Superintendent of Police (SP) offices if the state government continues to file First Information Reports (FIRs) against party workers. The dispute stems from the submission of Form 7 applications, which are used to request the removal of names from voter lists.

BJP State President B. Y. Vijayendra stated that the Congress-led government is misusing the police against party workers, despite recent scrutiny from the High Court. During a core committee meeting, Vijayendra also raised concerns regarding the authority to issue Permanent Resident Certificates (PRC). He argued that this power should be restricted to Tehsildars and higher-ranking officials rather than Panchayat Development Officers (PDOs) and Municipal Commissioners.

The party is also preparing for upcoming local elections, including Zilla Panchayat and Taluk Panchayat polls. Vijayendra called for the government to avoid delaying these elections and expressed intentions to consult with JDS leaders regarding upcoming by-elections.