Mysuru: EC functioning under guidance of PM, BJP, says Chandrababu Naidu
Bengaluru, Apr 15: Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N Chandrabab Naidu, key interlocutor among 21 opposition parties demanding verification of at least 50 per cent of polled votes against VVPAT slips, Monday alleged the Election Commission was functioning under the 'guidance' of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the BJP.
Opposition parties on Sunday had held a meeting to discuss the issue of EVM malfunctioning and said they will approach the Supreme Court again to demand that at least 50 per cent of paper trails be verified with EVMs.
The parties had put forth the demand days before the 2nd phase of the ongoing Lok Sabha elections on April 18, when the total of 97 constituencies across 13 states go to polls. The first of the seven-phase polls was held on April 11.
The Supreme Court had on Monday asked the Election Commission to increase the random matching of VVPAT slips with votes cast through EVMs at five polling booths per assembly segment, from one at present, in the Lok Sabha polls.
It had given the direction saying the measure would provide greater satisfaction not just to political parties but the entire electorate.
Naidu had met Chief Election Commissioner Sunil Arora Saturday to raise the issue of alleged malfunctioning of EVMs.
The Telugu Desam Party (TDP) chief also asked the people of Karnataka to vote in favor of the JD(S)- Congress coalition candidates in the coming Lok Sabha polls.
"Yesterday I met the Election Commission. All of you are here and I want to tell you one thing. This Election Commission is working under the guidance of Narendra Modi and BJP," Naidu said, addressing a public meeting in Mandyas Pandavapura.
Alleging that the independent functioning of all constitutional organisations is under threat,he said "We are all together to fight against EVMs...as of today EVMs are vulnerable."
Demanding verification of VVPAT paper trails of 50 per cent of the EVMs, he said "...we all suspect that the government of India and also the Election Commission of doing some fraud in VVPAT."
Naidu on Monday campaigned in Mandya,where Chief Minister H D Kumaraswamy's son Nikhil is the joint candidate of the ruling JD(S)-Congress alliance.
Noting that this was a very important election for the nation and not just for Mandya or Karnataka alone, he said, "I'm appealing to all of you in Karnataka ...you have to vote for the JD(S)-Congress candidates.
Naidu alleged that the current Prime Minister was the least accountable one in the last 70 years.
"He never addressed one press conference...Democracy is in danger," he said, as he alleged that the CBI, Enforcement Directorate, Income Tax department, Reserve Bank of India, and the Election commission of India were being misused by Modi and BJP President Amit Shah.
"Has Narendra Modi done anything for Karnataka in the last five years? We are paying taxes, nothing has been done for our states...even for Andhra Pradesh and other South Indian states and several parts of the country," he said as he hit out at Modi on various issues, including theRafale deal.
Praising former Prime Minister H D Deve Gowda and Karnataka Chief Minister H D Kumaraswamy, Naidu asked people of Mandya to vote for Nikhil and defeat BJP in the state.
Interestingly, multi-lingual actress and widow of actor turned politician M H Ambareesh- Sumalatha, who is from Andhra Pradesh and reportedly belongs to the Naidu community, is contesting as independent against Nikhil, for whom Naidu campaigned on Monday in the Vokkaliga bastion.
With an intention to avoid large-scale damage to JD(S) with splitting of Vokkaliga votes as both Nikhil and Sumalatha hail from the community, a campaign is on in Mandya to project her as an outsider, with several party leaders questioning her identity and stating that she is not a "Gowdthi" (not Vokkaliga), pointing at her Telugu background.
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.
Fire breaks out in five-storey guest house in Gurugram, four people rescued
Gurugram (PTI): A massive fire broke out at a five-storey guest house in the Sector 28 area here on Friday afternoon, creating panic and chaos.
Police, firefighters, Haryana State Disaster Response Force (HSDRF) and locals rescued four people, including three women, who were trapped in the building. They managed to douse the fire after an hour's struggle.
According to a fire officer, the blaze originated from an electrical panel on the ground floor of the guest house. It was initially believed to have been caused by a short circuit.
Deputy Commissioner of Police (East) Gaurav Rajpurohit and Assistant Commissioner of Police (East) Vikas Kaushik were present at the spot, the officer said.
He said fire department officials received a call around 1.29 pm stating that a five-storey building (No 3401) in Sector 28 had caught fire, with four people trapped inside.
Four fire engines and an HSDRF team were immediately dispatched to the spot.
A senior police officer said the fire erupted near the main entrance of the building and smoke spread inside.
Heavy smoke made it impossible to climb up the building from the front, but police personnel and the fire brigade demonstrated courage, reached the first floor using the building's side railings and set the rescue operation in motion. They then used ropes, grills and stairs from the rear of the building to reach the top floor and rescued the trapped people.
"Acting promptly and bravely, the rescue team safely evacuated women and other residents from the burning guest house. Due to their swift action, a major tragedy was averted, and the fire was brought under control in time," he added.
The building, rented by a company, has five floors, with four one-BHK units on each. The rooms were fully occupied at the time, they said.
"The situation was brought under control by around 2.40 pm. The fire was on the ground floor, but the flames had begun spreading to the second floor, raising fears of a major disaster. But our firefighters brought it under control in time. Refrigerators, air conditioners and other items on the ground floor were destroyed in the incident. The trapped people were rescued," said another fire officer.
A Gurugram Police spokesperson said, "The DCP (East) will give commendation letters to the police personnel, the fire brigade team and common people who saved lives by entering the burning building."
_vb_76.jpeg)
