Construction of Konappana Agrahara Metro Station
MoU inked with Infosys Foundation
Bengaluru, July 19: The Metro Corporation on Thursday signed an MoU with the Infosys Foundation to construct Metro station at Konappana Agrahara near Electronic City in Bengaluru at an estimated cost of Rs 200 crore being invested by the Foundation.
Speaking at a programme organized at the Vidhana Soudha Conference Hall here, Chief Minister HD Kumaraswamy said that if all the private companies reserved just 2 per cent of their profits for the development of the city just like Infosys Foundation, Bengaluru city could be developed. Metro train was very necessary for Bengaluru city to ease the traffic burden. In the first phase, 47 km work was completed and the second phase work was also started. It was commendable that the Infosys Foundation has joined its hands with this work, he said.
“Infosys Foundation chairperson Sudha Murthy has decided to construct the Metro station and maintain it for next 30 years and it shows her commitment and love towards the land. The Infosys has contributed for the development of the state in its own way. The government would support the Infosys programmes. Through Infosys Foundation, the Infosys has been funding a portion of its profit for cancer hospital, education sector and other social works. It has a lion share in the development of the state”, the CM recalled.
Sudha Murthy a model to country: DCM
Deputy Chief Minister Dr G Parameshwar said that by contributing to the development of the city, Sudha Murthy has become a model to the country. There were big industries and software companies in the city. As part of their Corporate Social Responsibility funds, if the companies reserved just 2 per cent of their profits and join hands with the government, Bengaluru city would become more safe, developed and peaceful in coming years, he said.
Ministers RV Deshpande, DK Shivakumar, KJ George, HD Revanna, Dr Jayamala, UT Khader, Sa Ra Mahesh, Zameer Ahmed Khan, Mayor Sampath Kumar, Chief Secretary Vijay Bhaskar, Urban Development department additional chief secretary Mahendra Jain, BMRCL Managing Director Ajay Sheit and others were present on the occasion.
“I am doing a little service to the state. I feel my Karnataka is my country. If I do something to my Karnataka, it means I have served my mother. I am doing this service to my mother. Metro is the best transportation means to Bengaluru city. The Foundation is constructing the station and it will help the people if the train service resumed on this route shortly”.
- Dr Sudha Murthy, Infosys Foundation Chairperson
Let the Truth be known. If you read VB and like VB, please be a VB Supporter and Help us deliver the Truth to one and all.
Sanjay Raut demands re-election, alleges irregularities in EVMs during Maharashtra polls
Mumbai, Nov 25: Shiv Sena (UBT) MP Sanjay Raut on Monday demanded a re-election in Maharashtra using ballot papers, claiming there were irregularities with the electronic voting machines (EVMs).
Talking to reporters, Raut alleged several complaints about EVMs malfunctioning and questioned the integrity of the recently held elections.
The BJP-led Mahayuti won 230 out of 288 seats in the assembly elections, while the opposition Maha Vikas Aghadi managed 46 seats, with Shiv Sena (UBT) winning just 20 out of 95 seats it contested.
"We have received nearly 450 complaints regarding EVMs. Despite raising objections repeatedly, no action has been taken on these issues. How can we say these elections were conducted fairly? Hence, I demand that the results be set aside and elections be held again using ballot papers," Raut said.
Citing some instances, he said a candidate in Nashik reportedly received only four votes despite having 65 votes from his family, while in Dombivli, discrepancies were found in EVM tallies, and election officials refused to acknowledge the objections.
The Sena (UBT) leader also questioned the credibility of the landslide victories of some candidates, saying, "What revolutionary work have they done to receive more than 1.5 lakh votes? Even leaders who recently switched parties have become MLAs. This raises suspicions. For the first time, a senior leader like Sharad Pawar has expressed doubts about EVMs, which cannot be ignored."
Asked about the MVA's poor performance in the elections, Raut rejected the idea of blaming a single individual.
"We fought as a united MVA. Even a leader like Sharad Pawar, who commands immense respect in Maharashtra, faced defeat. This shows that we need to analyse the reasons behind the failure. One of the reasons is EVM irregularities and the misuse of the system, unconstitutional practices, and even judicial decisions left unresolved by Justice Chandrachud," he said.
Raut stressed that though internal differences might have existed within the MVA, the failure was collective.
He also accused the Mahayuti of conducting the elections in an unfair manner.
"I cannot call the elections fair given the numerous reports of discrepancies in EVMs, mismatched numbers, and vote irregularities across the state," Raut said.
