NRI Kannadigas seek postal voting and polling booths at embassies for Karnataka assembly polls
Bengaluru: Kannadigas living overseas are seeking the right to vote through postal ballots or polling booths at their respective embassies, ahead of the upcoming Karnataka Assembly elections. Approximately five lakh non-resident Indians (NRIs) from Karnataka are mostly unable to exercise their franchise as they are unable to travel to their hometowns to cast their votes.
This time, Kannadigas residing in countries such as Italy, England, Saudi Arabia, and the UAE, among others, have approached the Election Commission of India and their respective embassy or Consulate General of India’s (CGI) offices seeking permission to vote through postal ballots or booths at their embassies.
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The Sagarottara Kannadigaru association, registered in the UK to represent overseas Kannadigas worldwide, has filed a public interest litigation in the Karnataka high court, where a hearing is scheduled for May 2. Ravi Mahadev, the association's joint secretary, told the Times of India that he came to Mysuru to vote on May 10. He stated that the cost of visiting India for elections is high, and neither the ECI nor the government encourages NRIs to vote. Although there is a provision to register as an overseas Kannadiga in Form-6A, it does not provide postal voting or booths in the countries where NRIs work.
Association president Chandrashekhar Lingadalli, who has come to Banahatti, his hometown in Bagalkot, from Dubai, said non-resident Kannadigas have started a campaign to submit memorandums to their respective embassies. The number of eligible NRI Kannadigas are of three types - working, dependents, and students. When countries like Algeria, the Philippines, Italy, and Romania allow their citizens to vote by setting up polling booths at their embassies, why is it not possible for about 60 lakh NRIs, he asked.
Hemegowda Rudrappa has submitted a memorandum to CGI in Italy, while Ravi Mahadeva has submitted a memorandum to the chief electoral officer, Karnataka, in Bengaluru. The campaign highlights the difficulties faced by NRIs in travelling to India to vote, particularly during a pandemic. They argue that the establishment of postal voting or polling booths at embassies is a practical solution that will allow NRIs to exercise their democratic rights without having to incur significant costs.
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Actress Namitha asked to furnish proof of being Hindu at Meenakshi Amman temple
The actor, who is a BJP state executive member, alleged that a temple official prevented her from having darshan and demanded proof of being a Hindu.
"They asked for a certificate to prove that I am a Hindu and also my caste certificate. I never underwent such an ordeal in any temple that I visited in the country," she told reporters later.
Namitha said it was a known fact that she was born a Hindu and that her marriage was solemnised in Tirupati and her son was named after Lord Krishna. "This being the case they spoke rudely and arrogantly and demanded a certificate to prove my caste and my faith," she said.
A senior official at the temple denied the allegations and said they stopped Namitha and her husband who were wearing masks to enquire if they were Hindus and explained the tradition at the temple.
"After the clarification from them, she was anointed with kumkum on her forehead and taken inside the temple for a darshan of Goddess Meenakshi," he said.
When asked about this, the actress replied that she was allowed for darshan only after clarification of her faith and applying kumkum on her forehead.
She said her visit to Madurai was spiritual and she had come to celebrate Krishna Janmashtami at ISKCON.
"There's a way of asking. I was made to wait for 20 minutes in a corner. We had informed the police about our visit on Sunday," she said.
The actress said she wore a mask as she did not want to disturb devotees who might recognise her.
Earlier in the day, she put out a video message to Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowments Minister P K Sekar Babu on her predicament and requested him to take action on the "rude" temple official.
Actress #Namitha alleged Madurai Meenakshi Amman Temple official restricted her entry into the temple for darshan & asked her to furnish proof of being a Hindu.
— S Mannar Mannan (@mannar_mannan) August 26, 2024
She was asked to put Kungumam in her forehead before allowing her to dharshan the deity.@xpresstn @NewIndianXpress pic.twitter.com/dKY1CSu8G0
