The senior Congress leader also said that since EVMs are not tamper-proof and VVPATs are not without their flaws either, his party will bring back ballot paper if voted to power.

MYSORE: Former Karnataka chief minister Siddaramaiah has alleged that the Election Commission(EC) is under “pressure” from the Modi government to not take action on complaints of political parties over alleged EVM tampering and their demand for re-introduction of ballot paper.

He said the electronic voting machines (EVMs) are not tamper-proof and Voter Verified Paper Trail (VVPATs) machines are not without their flaws either, he said adding that the Congress will bring back ballot paper if voted to power.

Alleging that EVMs were rigged during the 2014 general elections, Siddaramaiah said it could happen this time but “not all EVMs can be tampered with” and therefore, it would be impossible for the BJP to get a majority at the national level in the current elections.

His remarks came after the opposition launched a united attack on the EC over the use of EVMs and demanded 50 per cent of the machines be verified against VVPAT slips.

Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Chandrababu Naidu complained about EVM malfunction during April 11 polling and demanded re-election on 150 assembly seats.

“All political parties met the Election Commission several times and raised a concern about EVMs but it did not act on the complaints. I think the EC is under pressure from the Modi government,” Siddaramaiah told PTI in an exclusive interview.

The Supreme Court’s order to verify five EVMs with VVPAT slips is nothing but “patchwork” and even the demand to match 50 per cent EVMs with VVPATs will not help, he said, and endorsed that the only solution was to go back to the ballot paper system like other countries, he said.

Many countries have gone back to ballot papers as they find it to be a more reliable and secure way of conducting elections.

Netherlands, Ireland, Germany and Italy have stopped use of EVMs due to security concerns, he added.

Asked if the time has come to re-assess the way EC officials are selected for conducting fair elections, Siddaramaiah said, “For this, the Constitution has to be amended. The Constitution emphasises on conducting ‘free and fair’ elections and the EC should fair and unbiased.”

The Congress leader said that he was not “scared” of the rigging of EVMs in the state as he doubted the possibility of hacking all machines.

“They cannot tamper all EVMs, it is done selectively. I don’t think BJP will get the majority,” he said, and added, “People will definitely teach them a lesson.”

Asked if the Congress will re-introduce ballot papers if it comes to power, he said, “Of course, we will do it 100 per cent. EVMs will go, ballot paper will be introduced.”

Ballot papers need to be re-introduced as there are continuous challenges to the fairness of the election process that would undermine the trust of the general public as well as the candidates in the EC’s impartiality.

“I feel we should go back to ballot paper system. All this patch-up work will not work. If it is not happening this time, it should happen at least in future,” he said.

The ruling party should abide by the provisions of the Constitution and Representation of People’s Act.

“If it is not abiding with the rule of the law, then it does not have a business to continue in the power,” he added.

Karnataka will vote in the 2nd and 3rd phases of polling on April 18 and April 23 respectively

PTI

Bangkok, Apr 16 : Nearly 300 people have been killed and more than 2,800 others injured in road accidents during the Songkran festival throughout Thailand, an official said on Tuesday.

Sukhum Kanchanaphimai, a director of the Road Safety Directing Center, said 297 people have been reportedly killed and 2,807 others injured in varied road accidents during the five-day peak of Songkran season from last Thursday to Monday.

The fatalities and injuries, compiled from the provinces by the Department of Disaster Prevention and Mitigation, involved a total of 2,702 road accidents, most of which have reportedly occurred in Chiang Mai.

Udon Thani has become the province with the highest fatality rate with 14 people reportedly killed during the Songkran festival so far while Chiang Mai has become the province with the highest injury rate with 104 people reportedly injured, according to the director of the Road Safety Directing Center.

Most road accidents have been reportedly caused by motorists driving under the influence of alcohol, accounting for 40.68 percent of all road accidents during the festive season, followed by speeding which accounted for 27.54 percent, he said.

Motorcycles have been reported the type of vehicle involved in most of the road accidents, accounting for 78.85 percent.

A total of 235,838 motorists have been faced with varied charges of breaking the traffic rules, including 64,926 motorcyclists who had failed to wear crash helmets and 57,452 others who had failed to carry a driver’s license.

A total of 2,040 major road checkpoints have been set up and a 65,308-strong personnel have been deployed nationwide under the seven-day Songkran road safety campaign launched from last Thursday until Wednesday.

Shimla, Apr 16 : Protesting against abusive remarks made against All India Congress
Committee President Rahul Gandhi and his family members, all the district units of Congress
party organised protest and burnt the effigy of BJP state President Satpal Singh Sati at the state
wide protest on Tuesday.

The call of protest was given by the state unit of Congress in which number of party activists and
workers took part and burnt the effigy of BJP state president and lauding slogans
against him all over the state headquarter.

The Protesters assembled outside deputy Commissioner office here this morning carrying paper-
-cut-outs and effigy to show their resentment over remark.

It is worthwhile to mentioned that alleged remarks was made by Mr Sati during a public meeting
at a village near Ramshair of Nalagarh assembly segment on Sunday agitated the Congress party
during the state Lok Sabha election campaign.

State woman congress president Ms .Jandab Chandel, political secretary to HPCC president
Mr. Harikarishan Himral, State President of Sewa Dal Anurag Sharma and
state Youth Cong. President Mr. Manish Thakur and district President of Rural Shimla Yaswant
Chhajta attend the protest at Deputy Commission Office at Shimla.

Party also hold similar protest at other district headquarter and also burnt the effigy on the
same matter. There are report of a minor scuffl between Youth Congress activists and Police while burning
the effigy outside DC office at Una.

Ms. Janeb Chandel said that party Mahila Congress would cordon Mr Sati during his public function
in the state today and demand him to seek public apology for his remarks on AICC top leaders.

Jaipur, Apr 16 : Yoga guru Baba Ramdev on Tuesday said not only India but the whole world needs a strong leader like Narendra Modi.
The Yoga guru, who was here to inaugurate Patanjali Paridhan store, said that before voting for any candidate or a political party, people should take their track record into account.

Mr Modi has had an impeccable track record in the last five years, he added.
Asked why he is not campaigning for the saffron party, Ramdev said he may not be campaigning, but is extending his full support to Mr Modi.

India’s future is very bright, the yoga guru said but for 40-to 45 years, the country needs a strong government which will take her ahead in all realms, he opined.

Besides corruption, inflation, bringing back black money stashed in Swiss banks, nationalism should also be an issue in the polls.

Asked about SP leader Azam Khan’s comments on actor-turned-politician Jaya Prada, he said that the remarks were indecent and a leader should refrain from making such comments.

Patna, Apr 16 : Senior BJP leader and Bihar Deputy Chief Minister Sushil Kumar Modi today said that he would soon file a defamation suit against Congress president Rahul Gandhi for calling all people with their surname ‘ Modi’ thief.

Mr Modi in his official Twitter account said, ?Congress president Mr Gandhi has called all people with their surname ‘Modi’ thief. I will soon file a defamation suit against Mr Gandhi for his statement?.

Mr Modi said that the wave sweeping (entire country) in favour of Prime Minister Narendra Modi in 2019 Lok Sabha election is stronger than what had swept in 2014 election.

Leaders of ‘Mahamilawati Gathbandhan’ (grand alliance) are searching for alibis apprehending defeat (in the election)?, he remarked.

As it is, Mr Gandhi while addressing an election meeting recently had asked, ?why all Modis are thieves??