Bengaluru, July 11, 2026: Karnataka Home Minister Priyank Kharge has strongly dismissed allegations by the BJP that the state government is issuing Permanent Residence Certificates (PRCs) to illegal immigrants, particularly Bangladeshis, as part of the ongoing Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls.
In a video statement shared by ANI, Kharge addressed the controversy surrounding the SIR process and the issuance of PRCs. He questioned the feasibility of the claims and defended the Congress-led state government’s actions.“They are alleging that we are issuing certificates to Bangladeshis. My question is, how are Bangladeshis coming to Bengaluru? Whose responsibility is it to guard the international borders?… Do you think the state government is foolish enough to issue permanent residency certificates to Bangladeshis? We are a responsible government,” Kharge said.
He further stated that the BJP has been unable to identify any actual loopholes in the SIR process, which is why they are “raising these boogeymen.”Background on the RowThe Special Intensive Revision (SIR) is an Election Commission of India (ECI) initiative involving door-to-door enumeration to update and purify electoral rolls across Karnataka (and several other states). Booth Level Officers (BLOs) have been visiting households to verify voter details and ensure accuracy by removing deceased, duplicate, or ineligible names while including eligible citizens.
The Karnataka government has introduced measures to issue Permanent Residence Certificates to support eligible residents in participating in the SIR process and proving their credentials for voter list inclusion. The Congress government maintains that this helps prevent the disenfranchisement of genuine voters and aligns with ECI guidelines for acceptable documents.The BJP, including Union Minister Shobha Karandlaje, has criticized the move, alleging it could enable illegal immigrants to obtain residency proof and potentially get registered as voters.
Kharge emphasized that border security is the responsibility of the Central government. He asserted that the state would not issue PRCs to illegal immigrants and described the government as responsible in its approach.
He also noted that the PRC is issued by government officials under proper procedures, and the focus during SIR should be on including all eligible voters in the electoral rolls.Deputy Chief Minister Dr. G. Parameshwara has echoed similar views, clarifying that the certificates aim to facilitate participation in the SIR exercise for those who qualify.
The statement comes amid heightened political debate in Karnataka over the SIR drive, which began in late June 2026 and involves extensive fieldwork by BLOs.The video of Kharge’s remarks has been widely shared on social media, drawing reactions from both supporters and critics of the state government’s handling of the voter revision process.Source: Primarily based on the ANI video post from July 11, 2026, with additional context from contemporaneous reports.
