Karandlaje seeks Home Ministry review of Karnataka PRCTNN/ filed by PearlBengaluru: Flagging concerns over the permanent residence certificates (PRCs) being issued by the state government, Union minister of state for micro, small and medium enterprises and labour and employment Shobha Karandlaje sought the intervention of Union home minister Amit Shah.In a letter dated July 8, Karandlaje stated, “The Constitution of India envisages one citizenship for all citizens across the country. The introduction of a ‘permanent resident certificate’ by the govt of Karnataka is contrary to this constitutional framework, as it seeks to create a separate category of ‘permanent residents’ without any constitutional or statutory authority.”She alleged the state’s notification (on PRC) was alarming from the national security perspective. While the verification process is carried out by revenue authorities through residence and local verification, she said, tthere was no mechanism involving central authorities to verify the Indian citizenship (of applicants). Nor was there a robust mechanism to exclude illegal immigrants and foreign nationals, she added.The certificate, she said, would form the basis for obtaining state benefits, govt documents, educational admissions, employment opportunities and other entitlements. This in turn is “frustrating the efforts of the union govt to identify and remove illegal immigrants.”She urged the Union home ministry to examine the validity of the Karnataka Permanent Resident Certificate Rules, 2026, and direct the state government to keep the notification in abeyance till the examination is complete, also asking the home ministry to seek a detailed report from the state govt about the constitutional authority under which the notification was issued.Talking to the media, Friday, Karandlaje alleged “Bangladeshis who resided in Bihar and West Bengal are coming here in trains and other modes of transports, which is known even to officials. The plan is to add them to the voter list and give them schemes. Educated voters are removed and minorities are added. Congress is indulging in vote chori, adding illegal immigrants here, and we oppose it.”“When Rs 50 is being paid for enumeration forms, what is the guarantee tomorrow that revenue inspectors won’t take Rs 500 for issuing a PRC,” she questioned the process.
