Bengaluru, July 10 (IANS) The Karnataka government on Friday while countering charges by Union Minister of State, Shobha Karandlaje, has defended its decision to issue Permanent Residency Certificates (PRC) to people and stated that it has constitutional authority in this regard. 

It can be noted that the Congress government's notification regarding distribution of Permanent Residency Certificate (PRC) has triggered a political controversy in Karnataka, with the BJP alleging it could be misused to benefit illegal immigrants, while the state government maintains that it is an administrative measure within its jurisdiction.

Responding to the allegations by the BJP, Karnataka Home Minister Priyank Kharge defended the state's decision, asserting that the government had the constitutional authority to frame rules and issue Permanent Residency Certificates.

"Can't the state government frame rules regarding permanent residency? We are an elected government, and it is our responsibility to govern. We issue government orders through the established administrative system. We are issuing Permanent Residency Certificates through the government, not through the Congress party," Kharge said.

He questioned the BJP's objections to the proposal, saying, "I don't understand what their problem is. The government has every right to issue Permanent Residency Certificates in accordance with the law."

It can be noted that Union Minister of State Shobha Karandlaje appealed to Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Friday seeking his immediate intervention against the Karnataka Permanent Residence (PRC), 2026, on Constitutional and national security grounds.

She has written a letter to Amit Shah: "I write this representation seeking your immediate intervention regarding the notification issued by the Government of Karnataka introducing the Karnataka Permanent Residence Certificate (PRC), 2026. The notification raises serious constitutional, legal and national security concerns that require urgent examination by the Union government."

"The Constitution of India envisages one citizenship for all citizens across the country. The introduction of a 'Permanent Residence Certificate' by the Government 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 noted.

--IANS