Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) Member of the Legislative Council C.T. Ravi on Tuesday, 25 August demanded the immediate release of Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad (ABVP) activists arrested during protests over alleged irregularities in the Karnataka Public Service Commission (KPSC), and called for a judicial enquiry into the alleged assault on the demonstrators. Ravi made the demand at a press conference held at the BJP state headquarters, Jagannatha Bhavan, in Bengaluru.

The ABVP Arrests and Assault Allegations

Ravi accused the Karnataka government of deploying force against ABVP activists who had taken to the streets demanding a fair investigation into alleged corruption within the KPSC. He alleged the demonstrators were handled in what he termed an 'inhuman manner.' 'Those arrested should be released immediately, and a judicial enquiry should be conducted into the alleged assault,' Ravi said.

Questions Over Missing IAS Officer

Ravi also raised the alleged disappearance of IAS officer Gnanendra Kumar, who is reportedly under investigation by the Enforcement Directorate (ED). He targeted Home Minister Priyank Kharge, alleging that Kharge had been giving inconsistent statements about the officer's whereabouts while addressing other issues. The ED angle, if confirmed, would add a federal dimension to what is already a politically charged situation in the state.

Park Land Conversion Under Fire

On the alleged conversion of park land, Ravi described the development as a 'tragedy,' claiming the government was undermining the very purpose for which parks were established. He alleged that gomal lands and lakes had already been depleted, and that parks were now the next target. 'It is a tragedy that parks and playgrounds will not remain safe because of the greed of the real estate mafia,' he said. Ravi noted that Bengaluru no longer has the capacity to create green spaces on the scale of Lalbagh and Cubbon Park, both developed decades ago, and alleged the government was also failing to preserve existing ones.

Electoral Rolls and Illegal Voters

Ravi also flagged concerns over the integrity of electoral rolls, warning against the deletion of genuine voters and the inclusion of ineligible ones. He cautioned that Permanent Resident Certificates (PRCs) should not be used as a mechanism to regularise the status of ineligible voters. 'Genuine voters must not be left out of the electoral rolls, and illegal voters must not be included,' he said. The remarks come amid broader national debates over voter list accuracy ahead of upcoming electoral cycles.

What Happens Next

The BJP's demands — judicial probe, activist releases, and accountability on the KPSC irregularities — now put pressure on the Congress-led Karnataka government to respond formally. With the KPSC controversy already drawing public attention, the opposition's escalation to judicial enquiry demands signals that the issue is unlikely to fade quickly.