Mysuru Former Chief Minister Siddaramaiah on Monday reiterated the Congress’ suspicion that the Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs) used in the Lok Sabha elections were vulnerable to manipulation.
Speaking to reporters here on Monday, he said the party’s good performance in the polls to urban local bodies in the State vindicates its suspicion about EVM manipulation in the general elections. The ULB polls were held on May 29, about a month after the Lok Sabha elections. “In the local body polls, the Congress is ahead in the same areas where the BJP led by a large margin during the Lok Sabha polls. What does this mean?” he asked.
However, he also admitted that people vote differently in different elections. “They will vote differently in Lok Sabha elections and Assembly elections. In local body polls, the grounds on which they make choices are different,” he said.
On ‘Hindi imposition’
Meanwhile, Mr. Siddaramaiah accused the Centre of conspiring to impose Hindi on the State by proposing a three-language policy.
He said there was no need for the Centre to propose three languages, including Hindi. “Kannada and English are enough for Karnataka,” he said, adding that the mother tongue should be given precedence.
Contending that there can be no compromise on the State’s land, water and language, he said Karnataka would oppose the Centre’s move on the lines of the agitation in the neighbouring State of Tamil Nadu.
When asked if it amounted to imposition when the Centre has proposed three languages, including the regional language, Mr. Siddaramaiah shot back, “What else does it mean? Did we ask for it? When they do it [introduce a three-language policy] without asking us, it amounts to imposition.”