DK Shivakumar accuses BJP of endangering democratic system
Bengaluru: Deputy Chief Minister DK Shivakumar has accused the BJP of misusing the Constitution and acting in ways that endanger India's democratic system. He claimed that the BJP is attempting to convert governors into their agents, further threatening the democratic fabric of the country.
Shivakumar made these remarks while speaking to the media after paying floral tributes at the statue of former Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi near Seshadripuram Junction on Tuesday.
When questioned about the Special Investigation Team's (SIT) submission of a charge sheet against HD Kumaraswamy to the Governor and the Governor's subsequent response, Shivakumar stated, "I am not the spokesperson for the Governor or the Lokayukta. I am a representative of the Congress party. Therefore, I will comment on the Kumaraswamy case only after gathering full details."
In addition to his comments on the BJP, Shivakumar also spoke about the importance of Rajiv Gandhi's contributions to modern India. "Rajiv Gandhi's ideas continue to inspire today's youth. As the Bengaluru Development Minister, I approved the construction of a new statue of Rajiv Gandhi and named the Seshadripuram signal-free junction in his honor. This was inaugurated by AICC President Mallikarjuna Kharge and Chief Minister Siddaramaiah," he said.
Shivakumar highlighted Rajiv Gandhi's legacy, mentioning the voting rights for 18-year-olds, the Panchayati Raj Amendment, and the IT and BT growth in India. "Today, everyone has two mobile phones, thanks to Rajiv Gandhi's visionary telephone revolution," he added.
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Supreme Court rejects plea for reverting to ballots in elections
New Delhi (PTI): The Supreme Court on Tuesday dismissed a petition seeking to revert to ballot paper voting in elections in the country.
"What happens is, when you win the election, EVMs (electronic voting machine) are not tampered. When you lose the election, EVMs are tampered (with)," remarked a bench of Justices Vikram Nath and P B Varale.
Apart from ballot paper voting, the plea sought several directions including a directive to the Election Commission to disqualify candidates for a minimum of five years if found guilty of distributing money, liquor or other material inducement to the voters during polls.
When petitioner-in-person K A Paul said he filed the PIL, the bench said, "You have interesting PILs. How do you get these brilliant ideas?".
The petitioner said he is the president of an organisation which has rescued over three lakh orphans and 40 lakh widows.
"Why are you getting into this political arena? Your area of work is very different," the bench retorted.
After Paul revealed he had been to over 150 countries, the bench asked him whether each of the nations had ballot paper voting or used electronic voting.
The petitioner said foreign countries had adopted ballot paper voting and India should follow suit.
"Why you don't want to be different from the rest of the world?" asked the bench.
There was corruption and this year (2024) in June, the Election Commission announced they had seized Rs 9,000 crore, Paul responded.
"But how does that make your relief which you are claiming here relevant?" asked the bench, adding "if you shift back to physical ballot, will there be no corruption?".
Paul claimed CEO and co-founder of Tesla, Elon Musk, stated that EVMs could be tampered with and added TDP chief N Chandrababu Naidu, the current chief minister of Andhra Pradesh, and former state chief minister Y S Jagan Mohan Reddy had claimed EVMs could be tampered with.
"When Chandrababu Naidu lost, he said EVMs can be tampered with. Now this time, Jagan Mohan Reddy lost, he said EVMs can be tampered with," noted the bench.
When the petitioner said everybody knew money was distributed in elections, the bench remarked, "We never received any money for any elections."
The petitioner said another prayer in his plea was the formulation of a comprehensive framework to regulate the use of money and liquor during election campaigns and ensuring such practices were prohibited and punishable under the law.
The plea further sought a direction to mandate an extensive voter education campaign to raise awareness and importance of informed decision making.
"Today, 32 per cent educated people are not casting their votes. What a tragedy. If democracy will be dying like this and we will not be able to do anything then what will happen in the years to come in future," the petitioner said.
