Hundred problems in hundred days from state govt.: Kota Srinivasa Poojary
Mangaluru, August 30: Accusing that the state government has caused hundred problems in its hundred days administration, Leader of Opposition in the Legislative Council Kota Srinivasa Poojary said that the JDS-Congress coalition government which promised of giving stable administration, has done nothing to instill confidence among people.
Speaking to reporters here on Thursday, Poojary said that the government has been claiming that it has waived off farmers loans. But it was not speaking anything about the loans of fishermen and women self help groups availed from nationalized banks and private money lenders. In 100 days, the coalition government has done nothing. Chief Minister HD Kumaraswamy and former chief minister Siddaramaiah have no coordination. It was ridiculous that the century-old political party has kneeled down before the JDS to keep BJP away from power. The Congress leaders have thought that though they have lost their existence, they should not give up the power to the BJP, he ridiculed.
The state government has done nothing for the welfare of the farmers, poor and backward classes and it has failed to handle the natural disaster in Kodagu district properly. The Ministers have been visiting the ravaged places with escorts like tourist spots. Deputy Chief Minister Dr G Parameshwar had promised of constructing the readymade houses within next ten days. But the process was not yet started. The government has failed to provide food, roads, and employment. Instead of celebrating the completion of 100 days, the government should work for the people, he said.
As the roads in Shiradi, Sampaje and Charmadi ghats, the coastal districts were disconnected completely. The government should have conducted the repair works on war-footing. Aranthodu and surrounding villages in Sullia taluk were submerged in the flood water. So, the district administration and the government should announce special package to the villages, he demanded.
MLA Vedavyas D Kamath, BJP leaders Ravishankar Mijaru, Sanjay Prabhu, Jithendra Kotian, Captain Brijesh Chouta, Joilas D’Souza, Vasanth Poojary and others were present.
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Supreme Court rejects plea for reverting to ballots in elections
New Delhi (PTI): The Supreme Court on Tuesday dismissed a petition seeking to revert to ballot paper voting in elections in the country.
"What happens is, when you win the election, EVMs (electronic voting machine) are not tampered. When you lose the election, EVMs are tampered (with)," remarked a bench of Justices Vikram Nath and P B Varale.
Apart from ballot paper voting, the plea sought several directions including a directive to the Election Commission to disqualify candidates for a minimum of five years if found guilty of distributing money, liquor or other material inducement to the voters during polls.
When petitioner-in-person K A Paul said he filed the PIL, the bench said, "You have interesting PILs. How do you get these brilliant ideas?".
The petitioner said he is the president of an organisation which has rescued over three lakh orphans and 40 lakh widows.
"Why are you getting into this political arena? Your area of work is very different," the bench retorted.
After Paul revealed he had been to over 150 countries, the bench asked him whether each of the nations had ballot paper voting or used electronic voting.
The petitioner said foreign countries had adopted ballot paper voting and India should follow suit.
"Why you don't want to be different from the rest of the world?" asked the bench.
There was corruption and this year (2024) in June, the Election Commission announced they had seized Rs 9,000 crore, Paul responded.
"But how does that make your relief which you are claiming here relevant?" asked the bench, adding "if you shift back to physical ballot, will there be no corruption?".
Paul claimed CEO and co-founder of Tesla, Elon Musk, stated that EVMs could be tampered with and added TDP chief N Chandrababu Naidu, the current chief minister of Andhra Pradesh, and former state chief minister Y S Jagan Mohan Reddy had claimed EVMs could be tampered with.
"When Chandrababu Naidu lost, he said EVMs can be tampered with. Now this time, Jagan Mohan Reddy lost, he said EVMs can be tampered with," noted the bench.
When the petitioner said everybody knew money was distributed in elections, the bench remarked, "We never received any money for any elections."
The petitioner said another prayer in his plea was the formulation of a comprehensive framework to regulate the use of money and liquor during election campaigns and ensuring such practices were prohibited and punishable under the law.
The plea further sought a direction to mandate an extensive voter education campaign to raise awareness and importance of informed decision making.
"Today, 32 per cent educated people are not casting their votes. What a tragedy. If democracy will be dying like this and we will not be able to do anything then what will happen in the years to come in future," the petitioner said.
