NEW DELHI, Aug 8:
Seeking to enhance secrecy of votes during counting, Election Commission proposes introduction of a new machine to prevent disclosure of voting pattern.
The election body has submitted a proposal to the Government for introduction of ‘Totaliser’ machine for counting of votes.
“The Election Commission is of the view that by use of ‘Totaliser’, a further level of secrecy in voting and the mixing of votes at the time of counting will be achieved, which will prevent the disclosure of pattern of voting at a particular polling station,” Law Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad informed the Rajya Sabha today. In his written reply, he said the government has “not taken a considered view” on introduction of the machine.
“Secrecy of votes being the essence of India democracy will certainly be ascertained before introduction of any technological advancement in the voting or counting,” he said.
He was asked whether government is considering introduction of cluster counting instead of ward-wise declaration of vote count.
Responding to another question on EVMs, he said EC has sent a proposal for procurement of control units and ballot units which is being examined.
EC proposes to buy 9,30,430 control units and 13,95,647 ballot units between financial year 2014-15 and 2018-19.
EVM system consists of a maximum of four balloting units and one control unit. The two are connected by a cable.
Instead of issuing a ballot paper, the Polling Officer in-charge of the Control Unit will press the Ballot Button. This will enable the voter to cast his vote by pressing the blue button on the Balloting Unit against the candidate and symbol of his choice.
He said EVMs have a life span of 15 years and the ageing machines are replaced following due procedure. (PTI)

MUMBAI, Aug 8:
Aamir Khan, who has left many intrigued and others ridiculing him over his nude look in the poster of his upcoming film ‘PK’, has come under attack from a Congress legislator in Mumbai, who wants the actor to withdraw the “vulgar” poster.
“Through media, I would like to convey to Aamir that the poster is in bad taste. It has appeared in several newspapers and has gone viral on social media,” Vile Parle MLA Krishna Hegde said.
“We would be ‘dressing’ a cutout of the offensive Aamir poster here tomorrow to register our protest. Aamir should withdraw the poster as it offends sensibilities,” Hegde said.
“Aamir should remember that there are families and children who read newspapers and watch the ad on TV,” he said.
Hegde’s comments came after Aamir, 48, defended the ad, saying, “It’s not for publicity.”
Calling it “key art”, Aamir said it depicts the story of the film.
The poster of Rajkumar Hirani’s ‘PK’ features Aamir posing nude with a strategically placed boombox hiding his modesty. While some appreciated the dare bare act, others called it a publicity stunt. (PTI)

NEW DELHI, Aug 8:
Amid opposition demands for an All- party meeting during the current session of Parliament to solve the UPSC exam row, Government today said it is serious on the issue and the meeting will be convened after the civil services examination scheduled on August 24.
“I assure the House, we will convene an all-party meeting after the examination, scheduled on the 24th,” Parliamentary Affairs Minister M Venkiah Naidu said in Rajya Sabha after Leader of the Opposition Ghulam Nabi Azad demanded a meeting to solve the row during current session.
Naidu said the issue requires a “detailed study” and “deeper discussion” and nothing could be done at the eleventh hour as there are contradictory views on it inside the House and outside while children are preparing for the examination.
He said such a situation has not been created by this Government and it existed since 2011 and the Government had made it clear during the discussion in the House that certain suggestions had come which were contradictory in nature.
“We will apply our minds coolly” and the Government will call a meeting of all important stakeholders.
Azad had earlier warned the Government that if agitation reached the streets, the situation would be out of control.
“Take a decision on the issue before August 14 else if the row reaches streets after Parliament session, it would be not in the interest of the nation,” he said.
Almost all opposition parties are unanimous in their demand for an All-party meet and “I request the Parliamentary Affairs Minister to not to divide the country on the basis of language as it would be dangerous.”
He said the Government had earlier sought a week’s time which was extended to a fortnight and later the matter was converted as a dispute between Hindi and English whereas nobody was opposing English. (PTI)