Congress pushes for reverting to ballot paper, raises concern over electoral bonds
New Delhi, Aug 27 : Congress on Monday pushed for reverting to ballot paper in place of Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs) in a proposal given to the Election Commission. It also said that to ensure political transparency, full identity disclosure of purchasers of electoral bonds is necessary.
In a proposal to the Election Commission, the party said: "Given the prevailing climate, the Congress party is of the firm opinion that in order to restore the independence and integrity of the electoral process, we must revert to the paper ballot."
The party also said the present anonymity associated with electoral bonds needs to be remedied since this will not only assure anonymity to donors, but will also kill whatever little transparency exists.
"More recently, EVMs have been found faulty and non-functional on multiple occasions· There are innumerable complaints that whichever button was pressed, the voted was polled and counted in favour of the BJP's symbol," said Congress leader Abhishek Manu Singhvi quoting the proposals.
"This has been noticed in Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan, Gujarat, Maharashtra and many others. This has put a serious question mark on the credibility, independence and fairness of the EVMs in recording the votes correctly," said the party.
"VVPATs are meaningless if the paper trail is never to be counted. The ECI has spent a considerable amount of money by its own admission, on the introduction of VVPAT technology," it said.
"Currently only a very small number are cross checked. This turns the verification process into a mere academic exercise that defeats the very purpose of introducing VVPATs.
"If indeed the objective is to ensure greater confidence in EVMs, as stated in the note, then a more comprehensive audit of VVPAT should be welcome," it added.
The party said there should be timely submission of annual audit reports, election expenditure reports and contribution reports by national and state recognized political parties.
"The electoral bonds, which were introduced by the present government, allow any citizen or a body incorporated to anonymously purchase the same in various denominations of up to Rs. 1 crore. However, this is simply a legal channel for companies to round-trip their tax haven cash to a political party," said Singhvi quoting the proposals.
The party also raised the issue of bogus voters and said electoral process will be severely compromised if proper physical verification is not conducted. Other issues included fake/divisive propaganda being circulated on social media platforms.
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Nightclub fire: Goa court remands Luthra brothers in police custody for five days
Panaji (PTI): A court in North Goa on Wednesday remanded Gaurav and Saurabh Luthra, co-owners of the ‘Birch by Romeo Lane’ nightclub, in police custody for five days.
The brothers, brought to Goa from Delhi after being deported from Thailand in connection with the December 6 blaze that killed 25, were produced in the court after undergoing health check-ups twice at the District Hospital in North Goa.
Judicial Magistrate First Class Mapusa Puja Sardesai remanded the two brothers in police custody for five days.
Advocate Vishnu Joshi, representing Bhavana Joshi who lost four family members in the tragedy, said that the accused were asking for “special consideration” claiming poor health.
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“We said they should not be given any extra relaxation,” he said, adding that the court has taken cognisance of the fact that this is about the death of “25 people in the form of mass genocide”.
“But since they kept pressing for medical check-up, the court ordered reexamination of their health. It is clear in the medical examination that they don’t require any consideration. The accused sought special considerations in the lock-up like a good mattress, which the court refused,” said Joshi.
A team of the Goa Police, along with the Luthra brothers, arrived at the Manohar International Airport, Mopa, in North Goa at 10.45 am.
The duo was initially taken to a Primary Health Centre at Siolim for medical examination. They were then taken to the District Hospital at Mapusa.
After their health assessment, the two were brought to the court.
The court directed that the accused be sent for fresh medical examination. Accordingly, the two were again taken to the District Hospital.
Later, they were produced before Judge Sardesai, who ordered the five-day police custody of the accused.
After the fire tragedy at Arpora village, the Anjuna police had registered a case against the Luthra brothers on various charges, including culpable homicide not amounting to murder.
The brothers were arrested in Delhi on Tuesday after being deported from Thailand. A court there allowed the Goa Police their two-day transit remand.
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The duo had fled to Phuket in Thailand early on December 7, hours after the fire at their nightclub, prompting the authorities to issue an Interpol Blue Corner Notice and cancel their passports.
They were detained by Thai authorities at Phuket on December 11 following a request from the Indian government, which later coordinated with officials in Thailand to deport them under legal treaties between the two nations.
Five managers and staff members have already been arrested by the Goa Police in connection with the fire.
