SC should take notice of EVM-hacking issue, order probe after Gabbard's statement: Surjewala
New Delhi, Apr 12 (PTI): After US Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard's statement on EVM hacking, senior Congress leader Randeep Surjewala on Friday questioned the silence of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the BJP-led Centre and the Election Commission (EC), and demanded that the Supreme Court take suo-moto notice of the issue and announce a probe.
In a post on X, the Congress general secretary said Gabbard has publicly raised the "issues of hacking" of electronic voting machines (EVMs) and their vulnerabilities.
"In fact, she further said that EVMs are ... vulnerable to exploitation to manipulate the results of the votes being cast. The question is: Why are CEC and Election Commission of India 'silent'? Why is ECI planting 'source based stories' to negate what Ms Tulsi Gabbard said? Why are the PM, NDA government and BJP 'mum'?" he asked.
Surjewala said the EC and the Centre should reach out to the US government and Gabbard to collect all the details of hacking and other vulnerabilities of EVMs.
"Is it fair and just to outrightly rubbish and reject the statement made by the Director of National Intelligence of the US, whom we felicitated on 17th March i.e less than a month ago?
"Should the Supreme Court of India not take suo moto notice of the issue and conduct a thorough investigation, considering that free and fair elections and democracy are part of the 'basic structure' of the Constitution?" the Congress leader asked.
Sources in the EC rejected suggestions on Friday that the EVMs used in India are vulnerable to hacking, asserting that the machines work like simple calculators, which are not connected to the internet or infrared.
Referring to Gabbard's reported remarks that her office has obtained evidence of vulnerabilities to the hacking of electronic voting systems for manipulating votes, the sources said some countries use "electronic voting systems", which are a mix of multiple systems, machines and processes, including various private networks.
Ms. @TulsiGabbard is the United States Director of National Intelligence ! She has publicly raised the “issues of hacking” of Electronic Voting Machines (EVM’s) and its vulnerabilities.
— Randeep Singh Surjewala (@rssurjewala) April 11, 2025
Infact, she further said that EVM’s are, “…vulnerable to exploitation to manipulate the… https://t.co/7OOeFfo5Ey
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KSRTC to run 1000 special services to clear Christmas rush
Bengaluru: The Karnataka State Road Transport Corporation will operate 1000 additional special services in view of the Christmas festival.
In addition to the existing schedule, the special services will run on 19.12.2025, 20.12.2025 and 24.12.2025. Further, special buses will be operated from various places of intra & Interstate places to Bengaluru on 26.12.2025 & 28.12.2025.
Special buses will be exclusively operated from Bengaluru Kempegowda Bus Station to Dharmastala, Kukkesubramanya, Shivamogga, Hassan, Mangaluru, Kundapura, Shringeri, Horanadu, Davangere, Hubbali, Dharwad, Belagavi, Vijayapura, Gokarna, Sirsi, Karwar, Raichur, Kalaburagi, Ballari, Koppala, Yadgir, Bidar, Tirupathi, Vijayawada, Hyderabad and other places.
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Special buses from Mysuru Road Bus Station will be exclusively operated towards Mysuru, Hunsur, Piriyapatna, Virajpet, Kushalanagar, Madikeri.
The corporation has also announced a discount of 5 per cent on the fare if four or more passengers book tickets under a single reservation. A discount of 10 per cent will be extended on return journey tickets if onward and return tickets are booked simultaneously.
In addition to the above, special buses will be operated from all Taluk/District Bus Stands in the jurisdiction of KSRTC based on the traffic needs.
