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Karnataka minister calls EC a puppet of Modi govt; wants scrutiny of EVMs

Agencies
December 21, 2017

Bengaluru, Dec 21: A Karnataka minister today alleged that the Election Commission of India has been reduced to "a puppet" at the Prime Minister Narendra Modi government’s hands and emphasised that it should pave way for public scrutiny of EVMs. 

The Congress government in Karnataka is writing to the election commission with suggestions on electronic voting machines, state minister for information technology and tourism Priyank Kharge said.

However, the ball is in the court of the election commission whether to agree or not, he said.

Speaking to reporters on the sidelines of an event here, the minister said, "We are ready for our suggestions and even experiments. But the moot question is whether the election commission is ready."

He said the election commission has to agree with the state's proposal first.

"The election commission has been reduced to a puppet at the hands of the Union government. Even, the Centre has to agree with it (the proposal)," the minister said.

Kharge said the EC can make use of the techies and experts in Karnataka to test the EVMs.

He clarified that he is raising the matter, not because of upcoming Karnataka assembly polls but because EVMs are used from the panchayat level to Lok Sabha polls.

Kharge referred to reports claiming that a candidate contesting the municipal elections in Uttar Pradesh could not get his own votes.

He said Patidar agitation leader Hardik Patel in Gujarat too had expressed reservation on the EVMs.

Comments

shaji
 - 
Saturday, 23 Dec 2017

This Minsiter is 100 correct in stating that EC is acting on the advice of Union Govt and not ready to hold election through ballot paper instead of incorrect EVM.   These EVM has favored bjp in all the elections.   Its unfortunate that Union Govt and EC are not ready to hold electrion on ballot paper inspite of knowing the truth and agitation from various opposition parties.   Why do they love EVM so much?   EVM is not being used in any country as every one knows that it can be malfunctioned  and it so happed in india.   Union Govtr and EC are giving incorrect and false statements that EVM cannot be malfunctioned but it is cleared shown with proof that EVM can be malfunctioned.   However, these people are not ready to accept the truth.  Its really a shame and shows that they are fooling public and can go to any level to win electrion.

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News Network
March 30,2020

Mangaluru, Mar 30: Police on Monday registered a case against a man, who, after return from Dubai, had failed to adhere to lockdown guidelines of house quarantine.

The case was filed by Assistant Commissioner, Puttur, Dr Yathish Ullal.

The man, who returned from Dubai on March 21, had a seal on his hand and was supposed to stay at home for 14 days, but was seen roaming around the city, hence he was taken into custody and a case registered.

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News Network
July 27,2020

Bengaluru, Jul 27: Former Karnataka Chief Minister HD Kumaraswamy said that when COVID-19 has made life and livelihoods difficult, it is unfortunate that charges have been levelled of irregularities in the procurement of COVID-19 equipment.

"The Congress which has levelled charges against the ruling BJP has not so far filed a complaint with any investigating agency. Instead, the Congress has limited itself to getting publicity. On the other hand, the ruling BJP instead of coming clean by ordering a probe into the main charges is indirectly admitting the scam," Kumaraswamy said on Sunday.

"By washing dirty linen in public, both the Congress and the BJP are playing a cruel joke on people instead of protecting their lives," he said.

Hitting out at the BJP, he asked, "Why is it that the BJP is not ordering an investigation into the Rs 2,000 crore Covid 19 corruption charges levelled against the government by the Congress? Why is the government keeping quiet on the corruption charges?"

He said, "Is this the leadership provided by Chief Minister BS Yediyurappa? There could be political pressure on seeking resignation of his Ministers. But why has no action been initiated against any officers? Is there any effort to destroy the evidence by retaining officers in their existing postings?"

"Hunger for publicity is evident when we look at the press conference by five Ministers at a time," he said.

The government has countered the charges of the Congress but backtracked on ordering an investigation, he said.

"Would this not give rise to suspicion that the government is involved in the scam?" he asked.

He also asked why Congress leaders have not filed a complaint before any investigating agency despite "possessing documents to prove the charges".

"Are the Congress leaders trying to get publicity or are they concerned about the welfare of the people? The Congress Legislative Party leader is seeking an account (Lekka Kodi) while the BJP president is seeking answers (Uttara Kodi). Is it enough to give such questions and answers?"

Is there a concrete legal plan to deal with the irregularities? he asked.

"Looking at the way the Congress leaders have addressed media conferences and taken to social media campaigns, it appears that they are trying to get publicity," he said.

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coastaldigest.com web desk
June 14,2020

Bengaluru, June 14: Chief Minister B S Yediyurappa-led BJP government of Karnataka has once again urged the Prime Minister Narendra Modi-led union BJP government to release GST compensation worth Rs 10,208 crore that is due for the state.

The request was placed with Finance Minister Niramala Sitharaman during the 40th GST council meeting, in which Karnataka Home Minister and state’s representative to the council, Basavaraj Bommai, participated.

Speaking to reporters after the meeting, Bommai said that Rs 10,208 crore was due from the Centre as GST compensation for four four months - from March to May.

“We have requested the Centre to release Rs 1,460 crore - pertaining to GST compensation for the month of March - as soon as possible due to the dire financial conditions of the state,” he said.

Bommai said that the state was confident that the funds will be released soon, noting that Karnataka had recently received Rs 4,314 in GST compensation for three months, between December 2019 to February 2020.

Meanwhile, the state also proposed the Council to reduce penalty for delay in filing GST. Bommai said that while people are made to pay 18% of the tax as fine in delay in payment, Karnataka has asked the Centre to reduce the percentage by half to 9%.

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