Karnataka Assembly adjourned sine-die, after special debate on electoral reforms
Bengaluru, Mar 30: Need for stronger anti-defection law, making voting compulsory, functioning of the Election Commission and ending nexus between political parties and corporate bodies, were among the issues that came up for discussion during a special debate on electoral reforms in the Karnataka Legislative Assembly on Wednesday, before it was adjourned sine die.
Leader of Opposition Siddaramaiah expressed concerns over the deteriorating electoral system in the country since 1970s; while Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai expressed hope citing the innate strength among the people of the country to protect democratic system and values, despite diversity.
Participating in the debate, Bommai said, "India's democratic system has stood the test of time and we have been able to protect it. There is a smooth transfer of power in our country after every election, when compared to several developed countries, including the US."
Stating that there is no need for getting disheartened about the present electoral system, compared to the past, he said he has confidence in youngsters and changes in technology that is trying to bring in some kind of transparency.
"Certain percentage of voters may get infused, but normally every voter wants his vote to win...a voter observes everything, whether he takes allurements or not, most of the voters do (vote) according to what is in his or her mind," he said, adding that political parties need to understand this, as making people corrupt is the greatest sin.
Siddaramaiah during his intervention expressed concern about growing nexus between political parties and corporate bodies and said they have now reached a position of controlling governments, whichever party they may be from. "Also electoral bonds should be completely stopped," he said.
Advocating for strong laws to protect the electoral system, he felt that there should be a collegium system to make appointments to the Election Commission.
Noting that other bodies of the constitution and society on the whole are also responsible for the deterioration of the electoral system, he stressed on the need for liberating it from the mafia, money and caste.
However, former Chief Minister B S Yediyurappa said, despite allurements of money, liquor, and caste factor, voter when he goes to the polling booth votes according to his conscience, and that is what is safeguarding democracy and the system so far.
Senior Congress Leader and former Speaker Ramesh Kumar stressed the need for strengthening the tenth schedule of the Constitution that deals with anti-defection and making voting mandatory.
Speaker Vishweshwar Hegde Kageri, calling on the youth to become caretakers of the democracy and the parliamentary system, said, "My vote is not for sale" should become a mass movement.
He said he will bring to the notice of constitutional bodies, including the Election Commission, about the Karnataka assembly 's debate on electoral reforms and suggestions made.
JD(S) leader and former Chief Minister H D Kumaraswamy said the Election Commission should clarify doubts regarding the credibility of the Electronic Voting Machines, and called for an open discussion in this regard.
He also said that there should be discussion and accountability must be fixed regarding missing EVMs, which was pointed out by senior Congress MLA H K Patil.
During the debate on electoral reforms on Tuesday, citing RTI reports, Patil had said almost 19 lakh EVMs were missing and nobody knows where they have gone.
Reacting to Patil's statement, Speaker Kageri had said he would use his office to seek an explanation from the Election Commission on where 19 lakh EVMs are.
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Two arrested in K'taka for assaulting minors, uploading CSAM content
Bengaluru (PTI): Two men were arrested for allegedly sexually assaulting two minor girls, recording the acts on mobile phones and uploading the videos online as child sexual abuse material, police said on Thursday.
The accused have been identified as Kiran Kumar (29), hailing from Chitradurga district, and Aditya M K (20), hailing from Shivamogga district, they said.
A probe was initiated after information was received from the NCRP portal regarding a suspected instance of creation of Child Sexual Abuse Material (CSAM) for online dissemination, police said.
Accordingly, a case was registered at Kaggalipura Police Station under relevant sections of the IT Act on May 10, they added.
Investigation revealed that two minor girl victims were exploited and videos were created and uploaded to the internet. The child victims have subsequently recorded their statements as per procedure and further necessary legal steps have been taken, Pronab Mohanty Director General of Police, Cyber Command, said in a statement.
Based on the statements of the victims, the accused persons, who allegedly assaulted the minors, recorded the acts on mobile phones and uploaded the videos online, were arrested, he said.
Following the probe, sections 65(2) (rape) and 70 (gangrape) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, along with relevant sections of the POCSO Act, have been added to the FIR, police said.
Officials collected relevant information and on May 12, arrested the accused persons and seized three mobile phones belonging to them, in which the videos had allegedly been recorded, he said.
The accused were later produced before the court and taken into police custody for further investigation, he added.
According to him, in CSAM cases, police usually apprehend offenders who have downloaded such content or have kept them in their possession after obtaining them from elsewhere, usually the internet.
"The present case is one of the very few instances where content creators and uploaders have been apprehended," Mohanty added.
