100 pc chances for hacking EVMs, says Chandrababu Naidu
Amaravati, Jan 26: Claiming that there were 100 per cent chances for hacking Electronic Voting Machines, Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu Saturday warned that democracy could not be sacrificed to hackers.
He demanded that the Election Commission of India either ensure VVPAT receipts were issued 100 per cent or revert to the old ballot paper system.
Addressing a meeting of Telugu Desam Party MPs here, he noted that anybody could misuse technology.
"It's easy to misuse technology. It is particularly easy for the one who writes the (software) programme.
The Election Commission is only a referee. It should not enforce a system on which there is no trust," the TDP chief remarked.
Stating that people were the main partners in elections, he said enhancing faith in the people was democracy.
"Political parties are only raising the people's demand.
Many parties are opposed to the EVMs.
Even developed countries have not been using EVMs and hence the EC should not exert pressure on using a system in which there is no faith," Chandrababu added.
He asked his party MPs to raise the issue in Parliament and oppose the use of EVMs in the ensuing elections.
Meanwhile, the TDP opposed the Centre's reported move to introduce a full Budget for the 2019-20 financial year.
Chandrababu asked his MPs to exert pressure on the Centre to make it introduce only a vote-on-account budget.
"It's wrong in a democracy for a government, which has a mandate (left) only for two months, to present a budget for the next 10 months as well.
That's an undemocratic way. This government is trying to take decisions that a new government ought to take," TDPP leader Y Satyanarayana Chowdary later told reporters.
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PM to visit Assam, Bengal on March 13-14; launch various development programmes
New Delhi (PTI): Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday said he will visit Assam and West Bengal in the next two days and attend various programmes and inaugurate development initiatives which will present a wonderful opportunity to interact with the people of the two states.
Modi said the 22nd instalment of the PM-KISAN scheme would be released on Friday at a programme in Guwahati, which is "very special", besides presenting land rights to 3.5 lakh tea garden workers' families.
"I will be in Assam and West Bengal over the next two days to attend programmes in Kokrajhar, Guwahati, Silchar and Kolkata. These programmes will present a wonderful opportunity to interact with the people of these states. Various development works will also be inaugurated," he said in a series of posts on X.
The prime minister said that in addition to this, various works like the Kopili Hydro-Electric Project, Capacity Enhancement Project of NSPL will be inaugurated.
He said the foundation stone for the Furkating-Tinsukia rail line doubling project, cruise terminals at Bishwanath Ghat in Biswanath district and Neamati in Jorhat district will also be laid.
"These, along with the other works, will add momentum to Assam's progress. I look forward to being in Kokrajhar, a place associated with the great Bodo culture," he said.
Modi said the foundation stones would be laid for important road connectivity projects, including Assam Mala 3.0 which would significantly improve inter-state connectivity. Three new train services, namely the Kamakhya-Charlapalli Amrit Bharat Express, Guwahati-New Jalpaiguri Express and Narangi-Agartala Express will be flagged off, he said.
"A historic step towards justice and dignity. I compliment the NDA Government in Assam for this. We are proud of the hard work of the tea garden families and will always work to further their well-being," he said on conferment of land rights to tea garden workers.
Prime Minister Modi will visit West Bengal on Saturday, during which he will inaugurate and lay foundation stones of multiple development projects worth around Rs 18,680 crore in Kolkata.
Both Assam and West Bengal will face assembly elections in the next couple of months.
An official statement said that these initiatives "reflect the central government's continued commitment to strengthening infrastructure, enhancing connectivity and accelerating economic growth in West Bengal and eastern India".
According to the statement, the prime minister will inaugurate and lay the foundation stone for several national highway projects with a combined length of more than 420 km, worth around Rs 16,990 crore, which would give a major boost to road infrastructure in the region.
The projects being inaugurated include sections of NH-19 in West Bengal and Jharkhand and of NH-114 in West Bengal.
These projects are expected to enhance road safety, reduce travel time, ease congestion and pollution, improve regional connectivity, and promote tourism and boost economic growth in the region, the statement said.
Modi will lay the foundation stone for several new national highway projects.
The project forms part of the economic corridor between Kharagpur and Siliguri and will pass through Paschim Medinipur, Birbhum, Bankura, Purba Bardhaman, Hooghly, and Murshidabad districts of West Bengal.
Direct Kharagpur-Morgram connectivity will reduce travel distance by around 120 km and save nearly seven to eight hours of travel time. The corridor will also integrate with key national highways, including NH-16, NH-19, NH-14 and NH-12, thereby strengthening multi-corridor connectivity.
During the visit, the prime minister will also inaugurate and lay the foundation stone for several shipping and port-related projects. He will inaugurate the mechanisation project of Berth number two at Haldia Dock Complex, which will enable efficient, faster and environment-friendly cargo handling.
The project will enhance cargo handling capacity, facilitate efficient full-rake rail loading systems, improve key performance indicators, increase safety by reducing human exposure to hazardous operations, and generate employment.
Modi will also inaugurate the rejuvenation project at the Khidderpore Docks in Kolkata.
The other projects include renovation of the Bascule Bridge at Kolkata Dock System; yard development, including drainage systems, at Kidderpore Dock-I (East) and Dock-II (East); bank protection works along the Kolkata riverfront from the Howrah Bridge pylon to Nimtala Ghat, among others.
In the railways sector, the prime minister will flag off the Purulia-Anand Vihar Terminal (Delhi) Express, strengthening rail connectivity among West Bengal, Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Jharkhand and the National Capital Region.
During the visit, Modi will also inaugurate six redeveloped railway stations -- Kamakhyaguri, Anara, Tamluk, Haldia, Barabhum and Siuri -- under the Amrit Station Scheme.
He will also dedicate to the nation two railway projects -- the 16-km-long third rail line between Belda and Dantan, and the automatic block signalling system between Kalaikunda and Kanimohuli.
These projects will improve train safety and punctuality, reduce congestion and enhance the overall ease of travel for passengers in the region.
