BJP questioned EVMs first: Siddaramaiah
Bengaluru, May 22: As the debate over EVMs hotted up, former Karnataka chief minister Siddaramaiah Wednesday said it was BJP spokesperson G V L Narasimha Rao who has authored a book questioning about electronic voting machines 10 years ago and party veteran L K Advani had written the preface of it.
In a tweet in Kannada, Siddaramaiah wrote, "BJP was the first to raise doubts about the EVMs. The spokesperson of that party had even written a book. Supporting the doubt, L K Advani had written the preface of the book. What's the reason behind BJP's change in stand in the last 10 years?"
The book 'Democracy at risk due to EVMs' was written by Rao, a psephologist-turned politician, after 2009 elections.
A poster Siddaramaiah tweeted says, "Concerns about EVMs are legitimate when raised by BJP!"
His tweet came in the backdrop of six posers by BJP national president Amit Shah to the opposition parties led by Andhra Pradesh chief minister N Chandrababu Naidu for raising doubts about the sanctity of EVMs.
In his tweets, Shah condemned those questioning the EVMs saying that opposing EVMs is an insult to the voters. By questioning the EVMs the 22 parties shaken with the possible loss were tarnishing the image of the country, he said.
Shah also questioned the political parties why did they assume power who were elected through EVMs and were now questioning its authenticity.
As many as 21 political parties Tuesday submitted a memorandum to the Election Commission asking it to first count the five VVPATs and tally with the EVMs before proceeding with the counting process for the Lok Sabha polls.
However, the EC turned down their plea.
ಇವಿಎಂ ಬಗ್ಗೆ ಮೊದಲು ಅನುಮಾನ ವ್ಯಕ್ತಪಡಿಸಿದ್ದು ಬಿಜೆಪಿ. ಆ ಪಕ್ಷದ ವಕ್ತಾರ ಜಿವಿಎಲ್ ನರಸಿಂಹರಾವ್ ಈ ಬಗ್ಗೆ ಪುಸ್ತಕವನ್ನೇ ಬರೆದಿದ್ದರು. ಆ ಅನುಮಾನವನ್ನು ಬೆಂಬಲಿಸಿ ಎಲ್.ಕೆ.ಅಡ್ವಾಣಿ ಪುಸ್ತಕಕ್ಕೆ ಮುನ್ನುಡಿ ಬರೆದಿದ್ದರು. 'ಇವಿಎಂ' ಬಗ್ಗೆ ಈ ಹತ್ತು ವರ್ಷಗಳಲ್ಲಿ ಬಿಜೆಪಿಯ ಬದಲಾದ ನಿಲುವಿಗೆ ಕಾರಣವೇನು? pic.twitter.com/nJVcHHdGt5
— Siddaramaiah (@siddaramaiah) May 22, 2019
Lot of doubts about EVMs
Former CM Siddaramaiah has said that he had a lot of doubts about EVMs.
BJP men tamper EVM machines. There is a lot of doubts about this. EVMs cannot be tampered in the by-elections, but only in the general election. The votes, which come in our favor in by-elections, go missing in general elections. Why? Siddaramaiah asked.
Sidaramaiah, who expressed anger over the statement of Roshan Baig, said, "It is the thirst of power which is making Roshan Baig give such statements.
He was aspiring for a ministerial berth and even he did not get the Lok Sabha ticket. Therefore, he is giving such statements, he said.
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Karnataka to approach SC seeking permission to continue MGNREGA
Bengaluru (PTI): The Karnataka Cabinet on Thursday decided to approach the Supreme Court seeking permission to continue implementation of MGNREGA in the state, contending that the Centre had repealed the rural employment guarantee law without consultation and failed to put in place any alternative mechanism under the VB-G RAM G Act.
Briefing reporters after the Cabinet meeting, Karnataka Law and Parliamentary Affairs Minister H K Patil said the state would immediately move the apex court seeking permission to prepare and implement the annual action plan for rural employment works, while also challenging what it described as an infringement on the constitutional rights of states.
The parliament passed VB-G RAM G in December that replaces MGNREGA.
Patil explained that the Cabinet decided to approach the court seeking permission for the State Government to prepare an action plan in this regard. Since the Centre’s stand interferes with the constitutional rights of state governments, the Cabinet has also decided to challenge this issue before the appropriate court
“There are two points here. One is that they have come in the way of our constitutional right of providing the right to work. That has been halted, and, therefore, the State Government has decided to approach the Supreme Court. The second point is that the Government of India has not provided any alternative,” the Minister said.
The Central Government has not yet issued a notification to implement the VB-G RAM G Act, nor has it made any alternative arrangements and hence continuing Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA) is unavoidable in the public interest, the Minister said.
“Therefore, in the interest of the public, farmers and agricultural labourers, we must continue MGNREGA. For that purpose, the Cabinet has decided to approach the court seeking permission for the State Government to prepare the action plan for this year,” he added.
The Minister also said the Centre had only permitted continuation of pending and spillover MGNREGA works without releasing grants or announcing a fresh action plan.
“The Centre itself has said that pending, spillover and half-done MGNREGA works can continue. That means MGNREGA is actually still functioning in practice. But there is no new action plan,” he said.
Patil said the state had already passed a resolution on the issue, while Chief Minister Siddaramaiah had written to the Prime Minister and the Rural Development Minister had held discussions with Union Ministers.
Replying to questions, the minister said the state would move court “as immediately as possible.”
He clarified that the state was seeking permission to formulate and implement this year’s action plan under the existing framework.
“What we are asking the Supreme Court is to allow us to have the action plan for this year and implement it,” he said.
The Cabinet also held detailed discussions on the final report submitted by the State Education Policy Commission headed by former UGC chairman Professor Sukhadeo Thorat.
Patil said a Cabinet sub-committee would be constituted to examine the report and recommend measures for implementation.
“No decision has been taken yet. The Cabinet sub-committee will recommend what should be accepted and what should be modified,” he said.
He said the report comprised around eight volumes and covered issues relating to financial implications, human resources, curriculum reforms, deemed universities, unitary universities and newly established universities. The Chief Minister has been authorised to constitute the sub-committee.
The Cabinet also approved the Karnataka Motor Transport and Other Related Workers’ Social Security and Welfare Amendment Bill, 2026, transferring welfare administration of transport-related workers from the Labour Department to the Transport Department.
The Cabinet further approved establishment of three new industrial estates in Kalaburagi, Yadgir and Surpur under the Karnataka State Small Industries Development Corporation and Kalyana Karnataka Region Development Board schemes at an estimated cost of Rs 200 crore.
The Cabinet also approved amendments to Karnataka Civil Services (General Recruitment) Rules, 2026, providing two per cent reservation in state civil services appointments for sportspersons.
