CM Siddaramaiah vows legal action on LS poll fraud allegations
Mysuru (Karnataka), Aug 9 (PTI): Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah on Saturday said he has directed the legal department to examine the feasibility of initiating legal action against alleged election fraud during the 2024 Lok Sabha polls.
The CM's directive follows a suggestion from Congress leader Rahul Gandhi to probe alleged fraud in the Mahadevapura assembly segment under the Bengaluru Central Lok Sabha constituency during the general elections in 2024.
Speaking to reporters here, he said, "I have directed the Legal Department. It will examine what action is possible to initiate. Accordingly, we will decide. Based on the legal department's recommendation, we will initiate legal action."
Responding to the BJP's allegation that the officers deputed there were under the Congress government's control, Deputy Chief Minister D K Shivakumar said, "Officers may be ours (state government), but electoral issues are managed by the Election Commission."
To a question whether the action would be taken before the Bengaluru municipal elections, Siddaramaiah said, "We will do it immediately. I have told our legal advisor and Advocate General to examine it and get it done quickly."
Dismissing BJP's accusations that the Congress was slow to act, he said, "The BJP has committed a mistake and that's the reason that they are lying. Our internal survey during the 2024 Lok Sabha election showed that we will win 16 out of 28 Lok Sabha seats in Karnataka, but we won only nine of them."
"Rahul Gandhi has raised some issues. All those details are available with the Election Commission of India. He has only presented those documents available with the ECI. Can 80 people reside in a single room? All those 80 people voted," the CM said.
Asked why the judiciary should not intervene and take up the matter on its own, Siddaramaiah said, "We have been saying this from the beginning that manipulation is going on in the election. EVM and voters' list manipulation is happening."
Siddaramaiah affirmed that he believed Rahul Gandhi's claims of large-scale election fraud through bogus and duplicate voters.
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.
Karnataka govt directs municipal corps to regulate, prohibit pigeon feeding
Bengaluru (PTI): The Karnataka government has issued directions to municipal corporations across the state to regulate and prohibit feeding pigeons in public places, citing serious public health concerns.
Deputy Secretary to Government V Lakshmikanth has written to the Urban Development Department requesting it to issue directions to the Greater Bengaluru Authority (GBA) and all municipal corporations to take immediate steps to implement the measures.
In an official note dated December 16 issued by the Health and Family Welfare Department and released to the media on Wednesday, the department said uncontrolled feeding of pigeons in public places has resulted in large congregations of birds, excessive droppings and serious health concerns, particularly respiratory illnesses linked to prolonged exposure to pigeon droppings and feathers such as hypersensitivity pneumonitis and other lung diseases.
ALSO READ: Chinese GPS tracker found on seagull near Karwar Coast
"The commissioner, the Greater Bengaluru Authority and the Commissioners and chief officers of other municipal corporations shall take necessary action to mitigate the causes of dangerous disease spread by pigeon and enforce specified guidelines in their respective jurisdiction," the note said.
According to the department, these include a prohibition on feeding pigeons or causing pigeons to be fed in areas where it may cause nuisance or pose a health hazard to the public. Pigeon feeding shall be permitted only in designated areas in a controlled manner, subject to certain conditions.
"The designated areas may be selected in consultation with stakeholders. The responsibility for upkeep of the designated areas and compliance to the directions shall be taken up by some charitable organisation or an NGO. The feeding in designated areas shall be permitted only for some limited hours in the day," it said.
The note further stated that authorised officers of local authorities shall issue on-the-spot warnings and may impose fines for violation of the order, or lodge complaints to prosecute offenders under Sections 271 (Negligent act likely to spread infection of disease dangerous to life) and 272 (Malignant act likely to spread infection of disease dangerous to life) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita.
It also directed local authorities to conduct public awareness campaigns, including the display of signboards, banners and digital messages, explaining the health hazards associated with pigeon droppings and feathers, the content of the regulatory directions and penalties for violations, and alternative humane methods of bird conservation that do not endanger public health.
