Ballari: Former minister B Sriramulu on Saturday warned that he would launch a sit-in protest near the Tungabhadra (TB) reservoir from March 1 if at least 20% of the work on installing 33 new crest gates is not completed by Feb 28. Addressing reporters at his residence here, Sriramulu expressed serious concern over the alleged slow pace of work on the gates. Criticising the state govt’s decision to revert to ballot papers for elections, Sriramulu termed it a regressive move. “In an era of advanced technology, when EVMs are readily available, opting for paper ballots is inappropriate. Regardless of the method adopted, the ruling govt will not be able to escape defeat,” he said. He also defended the Union govt, asserting that Karnataka received a fair share in the budget.
