Karnataka Minister Priyank Kharge on Wednesday, 28 October 2026, said the state government was actively examining requests from activists to denotify additional locations in Bengaluru and across Karnataka as designated protest sites, while underscoring its commitment to preserving citizens' right to peaceful demonstration.

What the Government Said on Protest Sites

Speaking to reporters in Bengaluru, Kharge said officials had met activists who urged that more locations be removed from the list of designated protest venues — a move he framed as expanding, not restricting, citizens' rights.

'We have met some activists who suggested that more locations in Bengaluru and across the state should be denotified. We are looking into the matter,' Kharge said.

He added that an affidavit had already been filed in the High Court by all parties, including civil rights activists, and that the government would examine the matter before acting.

Kharge was careful to stress that the exercise was about balance: 'The government is not interested in curbing citizens' rights. While ensuring that people can exercise their rights, we must also consider the rights of other citizens affected by protests. It is a fine balance, and we will work to maintain it.'

The Jantar Mantar Backdrop

The minister's remarks came against the backdrop of the controversy surrounding the denotification of Jantar Mantar in New Delhi as a designated protest venue — a move that drew sharp criticism from Opposition leaders nationwide. Kharge had previously accused the Narendra Modi-led Centre of suppressing peaceful dissent, alleging that the government feared the Gen Z protest movement and deliberately denied demonstrators access to the historic site.

Notably, Kharge's framing positions the Karnataka government's review as a contrast to the Centre's approach — a denotification driven by activist demand rather than administrative restriction.

Sharp Attack on BJP Over Electoral Roll Revision

Kharge also launched a pointed attack on the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) over the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls, alleging that the exercise was systematically skewed to benefit the ruling party at the Centre and suppress Opposition voters.

He claimed that nearly one crore people had been left out of the voter lists in Karnataka alone, and said the state government would scrutinise the circumstances behind these exclusions.

'This SIR is a process that favours the BJP. It is very evident in West Bengal, it was very evident in Bihar, and even in Karnataka. Nearly one crore people have been left out,' Kharge said.

Allegations of Bogus Forms in Chitapur and Aland

Kharge cited two specific constituencies to buttress his allegations. In Chitapur, he claimed that 40 Form 7 applications submitted were bogus and pointed out that the complaint had been filed by the Electoral Registration Officer (ERO) — not by a private individual or political worker — lending official weight to the allegation.

'It is absolutely a conspiracy. In Chitapur, 40 Form 7s have been given, they are all bogus. The ERO has filed a complaint, not some individuals,' he said.

In Aland, Kharge alleged that 5,994 out of 6,018 forms examined were fake and said 22,000 chargesheets had been filed, though further details on the nature of the chargesheets were not immediately available. He also accused BJP workers of pre-printing Form 7 — the form used to delete names from electoral rolls — as part of a coordinated effort to disenfranchise voters who opposed the party.

What Happens Next

The Karnataka government has indicated it will scrutinise the voter lists and investigate how the alleged exclusions and irregularities occurred. On the protest sites question, the matter is before the High Court, and further government action is expected only after a review of the court affidavit. The dual controversy — over protest spaces and electoral integrity — is likely to sharpen the political battle between the ruling Congress in Karnataka and the BJP ahead of future electoral cycles.