EVMs: Hero or villain?
When elections end, mostly all parties get into introspection mode to examine the reasons for their victory or loss. If the party has done badly, at least a few prominent leaders in vantage positions will be expected to resign. But today things have changed. The parties that have lost hardly introspect, and instead shift the entire blame on hacked EVMs and rest is easy.
BSP did this when Mayawati lost in UP assembly elections without engaging in debates with the infights and polarization of votes and other factors that had caused the loss. With the loss of face in Karnataka elections, the losing party is now blaming the EVMs for this. The confidence Congress exhibited of winning 120 seats, and arguments of ‘no anti-incumbency’ have fallen flat with massive loss of seats. Even while the discussions on what caused this are on, some Cong leaders have alleged that EVMs have been manipulated in 30-40 constituencies. While observing the results from some staunch supporting places, this allegation may even ring true! But the blame on EVM is restricted to the machine alone, and no one is going forward to lodge a complaint or do anything to rectify it. If these allegations that started after UP elections are indeed true, why was the case not followed to a complaint and then corrective actions? Why are politicians conveniently silent when results favour them and cry victim when they are not?
This is not a new complaint. Long ago, L K Advani of BJP had blamed EVMs when the UPA government came into power in the centre. Many have proven that the voting machines can be easily hacked. This time around, pressing any button would lead to BJP getting the votes by default. The allegations of Modi government getting the use of manipulated EVMs have not died down. Yet, the BJP is asking a crucial question of ‘why reject the technology?’
This question may not matter much. But the point that many developed nations have gone back to ballot papers having rejected EVMs after allegations of their misuse surfacing, is a point to be noted. That does not mean those countries are anti-technology. They simply dumped the EVMs and went back to their trusted method because they did not want to compromise on their country’s foundation of democracy.
But India shows undue interest in continuing with EVMs, no matter what. Using technology for the sake of it should not be a matter of pride. We need to know when to reject the technology as well, in order to protect our institutions. EVMs do un-complicate the process of voting and counting by being time efficient. But is that the only criterion we should be considering? If someone can hack into the system and get the desired results, how prudent it is to continue with the use of gadgets? Is this not a mockery of the system?
The Election Commission insists that the EVMs can never be hacked, and on the parallel, many hackers have shown how it can be done. Apart from BJP, all other parties have expressed doubts about EVMs including Shiv Sena. The Election Commission needs to consider all this, and take a decision before the next general elections. All parties need to come together on this as well, in order to ensure deeper participation in this process and reach an amicable solution.
While others are at this, Prime Minister Narendra Modi needs to answer why is he insisting on the use of EVMs when every party is raising doubts about the authenticity of this technology.
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LoP Ashoka targets CM govt over corruption, says being 'shameless' in public life not forgivable
Bengaluru (PTI): Targeting Chief Minister Siddaramaiah and the Congress government in Karnataka on corruption, BJP leader R Ashoka on Friday said, being foolish was forgivable, but being "shameless" in public life was not.
The Leader of Opposition in the state Assembly claimed that in just 30 months of its tenure, the Congress administration has broken every previous record on corruption-related controversies.
He was responding to Siddaramaiah's post on 'X' on Thursday hitting back at the BJP, stating that Upa Lokayukta Justice Veerappa's claims of "63 per cent corruption" were based on his report in November 2019, when BJP's B S Yediyurappa was the CM.
"But Ashoka, without understanding the Upa Lokayukta's statement properly, has ended up tying the BJP's own bells of sins onto our heads and has effectively shot himself in the foot," the CM had said, as he accused Ashoka of foolishness for trying to twist Veerappa's statement to target the current government.
Responding, Ashoka said, "it is one thing to be called foolish in politics, that can be forgiven."
"But in public life, especially in the Chief Minister's chair, one must never become shameless," Ashoka posted on 'X' on Friday addressing Siddaramaiah.
Noting that the CM himself had admitted on the floor of the Assembly that a Rs 87 crore scam took place in the Valmiki Development Corporation, he said that when a CM acknowledges such a massive irregularity inside the floor of the House, the natural expectation is immediate action and accountability.
"But instead of taking responsibility, you continue in office as if nothing has happened. What should the people of Karnataka call this, if not sheer shamelessness," he asked.
Pointing out that the CM's Economic Advisor and senior Congress MLA Basavaraja Rayareddy had publicly stated that under Congress rule, Karnataka has become No.1 in corruption, Ashoka said, "Yet, you still cling to the Chief Minister's chair without a moment of introspection. What should the people of Karnataka call this, if not sheer shamelessness."
Senior Congress MLA C R Patil had exposed the "money for House" racket in the Housing Department and even warned that the government would collapse if the details he has were made public, Ashoka said.
"Despite such serious allegations from within your own party (Congress), you neither initiated an inquiry nor acted against the concerned minister. What should the people of Karnataka call this, if not sheer shamelessness," Ashoka asked the CM.
Highlighting the "40 percent commission" allegation Congress made against the previous BJP government, the opposition leader said, the commission that the Siddaramaiah government appointed concluded that the accusation was baseless.
"After your own panel demolished your own claim, what moral right do you have to continue repeating that allegation. What should the people of Karnataka call this, if not sheer shamelessness," he asked.
For the last two and a half years, Karnataka has been 'drowning' in corruption, scandals, irregularities and allegations across departments. Ashoka said, "If I begin listing every case that emerged under your government, even 24 hours would not be enough."
"And the most tragic aspect of your administration is this: the unbearable pressure, corruption demands and administrative harassment under your government pushed several officers and contractors into extreme distress - including the suicide of Chandrasekharan which exposed the Valmiki Development Corporation scam - a sign of how deeply broken the system has become under your watch," he said.
Instead of fixing this hopeless environment, the government has tried to bury every complaint and silence every voice, he charged.
"Being foolish is forgivable, but being shameless in public life is definitely not."
"When your own ministers admit scams, when your own advisors certify Karnataka as No.1 in corruption, and when your own MLAs expose rackets inside your departments - clinging to power without accountability is not leadership. It is shamelessness in its purest form." PTI KSU
Earlier on Thursday Ashoka had demanded that the corruption case and allegations in the state against the Congress government be handed over to a CBI investigation, citing a reported statement by Upalokaykta Justice Veerappa alleging "63 per cent corruption", following which Siddaramaiah hit back at the BJP leader.
