Karnataka minister writes to poll panel seeking EVM challenge

News Network
January 2, 2018

Priyank Kharge, Karnataka Minister for IT and BT, on Tuesday, wrote to the Election Commission of India (ECI), seeking an electronic voting machine (EVM) challenge to test the machines for errors.

In his letter to Achal Kumar Jyoti, the Chief Election Commissioner, Kharge has proposed that the EVM challenge be jointly hosted by the Karnataka government and the ECI, where stakeholders of the scientific community can be invited to participate in testing the EVMs.

Unlike the EVM challenge hosted by the ECI in May 2017, where only political parties participated, Kharge has said that the challenge this time should be thrown open to technocrats, scientists, corporates, R&D institutes, start-ups and tinkerers.

He has sought that the ECI provide 250 randomly selected EVMs to plan and execute the challenge, under the overall supervision of the ECI.

For the challenge, individuals or interested parties can be allowed to test the EVMs using instruments of their choice. Design documents, test descriptions and results, security procedures used by the ECI can be provided for the same. Results obtained can be made public and long-term testing by a team of experts can be initiated, if necessary, he has said.

"The challenge needs to go beyond political parties and should be opened to all the young and bright minds in the country to ensure a pure scientific engagement with the community without political agenda. If there are technical flaws, we can solve it together and if there are no errors, we restore the people's faith in our democratic process," his letter states.

Comments

Wellwisher
 - 
Tuesday, 2 Jan 2018

At Karnataka who wver won that is people selection but to elect election commission must stop EVM system and replace Ballot voting system. Karnataka always support and electing a wisa and qualified Desh Bjakth candidate, So please respect our voting power a d implement Bllot voting system.

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News Network
April 18,2020
Bengaluru, Apr 18: State Home Minister Basavaraj Bommai has stated that there is no need for Dubai Kannadigas to be worried during the COVID-19 crisis.
 
In a statement issued here on Saturday, he said that the State government is with the Dubai Kannadigas and their families residing here in the State, promising that they will not face any problems.
 
Bommai also sought the cooperation of all Dubai-based Kannadiga industrialists and employees in the fight against the virus.

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Syef
 - 
Sunday, 19 Apr 2020

We are already facing lot of problems here without food and money.

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News Network
August 9,2020

Bengaluru, Aug 9: Karnataka Chief Minister BS Yediyurappa has expressed condolences over the death of nodal officer who died while being on COVID-19 duty and announced an ex-gratia of Rs 25 lakhs to the family of the deceased.

The deceased has been identified as H Gangadharaiah. As per reports, he died due to a heart attack while on COVID-19 duty.

A government job and Rs 25 lakhs will be provided to the officer's family, according to Karnataka Chief Minister's Office (CMO).

"Chief Minister BS Yediyurappa expressed his heartfelt condolences over the death of H Gangadharaiah, KAS, who was on COVID-19 duty as nodal officer at the Bangalore International Exhibition Centre (BIEC)," Karnataka CMO tweeted.

"CM announced Rs 25 lakhs ex-gratia from Chief Minister's Relief Fund, a government job for a family member and instructed the last rites of Gangadharaiah to be performed with full state honours," the CMO added.

In the last 24 hours, 7,178 new COVID-19 cases (including 2665 in Bengaluru Urban), 93 deaths and 5,006 discharged cases were reported in Karnataka.

The total number of cases rises to 1,72,102 in the state, including 79,765 active cases, 89,238 discharges and 3,091 deaths, as per the State's Health Department.

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News Network
July 14,2020

Bengaluru, Jul 14: The Karnataka government on Tuesday made changes to the Land Reforms Act 1961 through an ordinance to allow non-agriculturists to buy and own farmland for farming.

“The Land Reforms Act has been amended through an ordinance and notified after Governor Vajubhai R Vala gave his assent to it on Monday night,” a Revenue Department official told media persons.

It now permits non-farmers to buy farmland and grow food crops. But they can’t use it for other activities.

“Sections 79 A, B and C of the Act have been repealed, paving way for bona fide citizens to invest in farmland and take to farming as a hobby, passion or additional occupation, which is rewarding,” the official said.

The amended Act will enable the state to attract investment in the farm sector and boost food output. The farm sector’s contribution to the state’s gross domestic product (GDP) has been less than the manufacturing and services sectors over the last two decades.

Criticism by farmers, the Congress and the JD(S) since the cabinet approved changes on June 11 forced the state government to retain section 80 of the Act, with an amendment, to prevent sale of dam water irrigated farmland.

“The ordinance has also added a new section (80A), which says relaxations under the Act will not apply to land given to farmers under the Karnataka SC and ST (Scheduled Caste and Tribe) Act 1978,” the official said.

The changes permit mortgage of farmland only to the state-run institutions, firms and cooperative societies specified in the Act. The ordinance also makes legal cases pending in courts against the sections amended redundant as the new Act addresses the concerns raised in them.

“Besides generating substantial revenue for the state government, the Act will now allow farmers who find the occupation non-remunerative and risky due to droughts/floods and labour shortage to sell their surplus land to urban buyers,” the official said.

Ruling BJP Rajya Sabha member KC Ramamurthy from Bengaluru said the amended Act would allow any citizen to buy farmland.

“Though hundreds of people petitioned successive governments for the past 45 years to abolish the ‘draconian’ sections, they were ignored. I compliment Chief Minister BS Yediyurappa and Revenue Minister R Ashoka for the decision to allow everyone to buy farmland irrespective of their occupation or profession,” Ramamurthy told media persons.

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