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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No more street vending on B’luru’s main roads, as govt plans to bring new policy for street hawkers
Bengaluru: Deputy Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar on Friday said that the state government has decided to formulate a new policy for footpaths in Bengaluru, under which street vending will not be allowed on main roads and sub-main roads.
Addressing the media after a budget preparation meeting and executive meeting of GBA corporations at Vidhana Soudha, Shivakumar said discussions were held with MLAs from the GBA region regarding the corporations’ budgets and key civic issues.
Leader of Opposition R. Ashok also participated in the meeting and shared his views. Officials from multiple departments, including police, BESCOM, BMRCL, BWSSB and BDA, along with ministers and legislators, were present.
He stated that all five municipalities have prepared their individual budgets, while MLAs have submitted their demands, including calls for ward-wise grants.
“We have decided to bring a new policy for footpaths. Citizens are struggling to walk as footpaths are encroached upon by street vendors,” Shivakumar said.
Highlighting the need to balance livelihoods and public convenience, he added that “a separate space will be provided for street vendors, and specific roads will be designated for their business,” ensuring that pedestrians can use footpaths without obstruction. He noted that there was unanimous agreement among MLAs on this approach.
Issuing a warning to vendors, Shivakumar said that authorities will act against those violating the rules. “If vendors operate during the day and leave their carts on the roadside at night, authorities will clear them. People should be aware of this,” he said.
Providing data on street vendors, he said that around 60,000 vendors have registered so far, of which 30,000 have applied for vehicles, and a tender has already been floated.
“Only those with street vendor identity cards will be allowed to do business. Those without ID cards will not be permitted to operate on the streets,” he added.
