Here are a few reactions of political leaders on EVM Hackathon Row:
Syed Shuja, a self-proclaimed US-based Indian cyber expert, made several sensational claims regarding the Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs). Shuja on Monday claimed that the 2014 Lok Sabha elections was "rigged". He addressed a press conference in London on Skype.
The cyber expert said, "He is seeking political asylum in the US." He claimed that EVMs can be hacked, a charge rejected by the Election Commission of India. He was presented at the press conference held under the aegis of the Indian Journalists' Association (Europe). The Election Commission and political parties were invited to be at the press meet but only Congress leader Kapil Sibal attended the event, he added.
However, the Election Commission of India (ECI) rejected his claims and reiterated that the EVMs used by it are manufactured by Bharat Electronics Limited (BEL) and Electronics Corporation of India Limited (ECIL), both state-owned companies. It asserted that the EVMs are operated under "very strict" supervisory and security conditions. Rigorous Standard Operating Procedures are meticulously observed at all stages under the supervision of a Committee of eminent technical experts constituted way back in 2010.
Syed Shuja's claims on the results of the 2014 general election, UP, Gujarat and Delhi elections being rigged has once again stirred a political controversy in the country. Several political parties in the past have alleged that the EVMs are prone to tampering and demanded reintroduction of the ballot papers.
Here are a few reactions of political leaders on EVM Hackathon Row:
1. 'Latest revelations intensify doubts on EVM rigging, we demand EC to use ballot paper in 2019'
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"The latest revelations have made the doubts on the EVMs more serious. It is better under such conditions that the future elections, especially the upcoming Lok Sabha polls, be conducted using ballot papers which can be verified at three levels unlike the EVMs," she said in a statement to news agency.
Urging the Election Commission to take strong note of the issue, Mayawati said the latest "revelations" are most sensational and expose the "conspiracy" of the BJP.
Mayawati: Keeping democracy's larger interest in view,essential to look into EVM matter so that it gets resolved soon. It's possible to validate ballot paper but it's not the case with EVM. We demand EC to hold 2019 general election using ballot paper,taking this into cognizance. pic.twitter.com/iNSxO9CSnc
— ANI UP (@ANINewsUP) January 22, 2019
Photo Credits: PTI
2. 'Does Syed Shuja have evidence to back his claims? Why did he keep silent till now?'
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Maharashtra Finance Minister and BJP leader Sudhir Mungantiwar Tuesday demanded an inquiry against self-proclaimed cyber expert Syed Shuja over his claims that 2014 general elections were "rigged" through the electronic voting machines (EVMs), which, he said can be hacked.
The ruling Bhartiya Janata Party (BJP) which had won the last Lok Sabha polls by landslide, has alleged that the Congress had organised the EVM hackathon in London in which Shuja, seeking political asylum in the US, made these claims Monday. Speaking to reporters after attending Cabinet meeting, Mungantiwar questionned the timing of Shuja's claims.
Photo Credits: PTI
3. 'Opposition parties know they will lose elections so looking for excuses'
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Taking a swipe at the opposition for forming a committee on the voting machine issue, Union minister Prakash Javadekar Tuesday said the parties were going to face defeat in the upcoming Lok Sabha polls and therefore they have started to look for excuses.
"In Kolkata rally, they did not form manifesto committee, they also did not set up any committee to look into that what will be their common minimum programme but they formed only one committee and it was about EVM (electronic voting machine). They know they are going to lose elections so they want to make EVMs the excuse of their defeat," Javadekar said at a press conference.
Photo Credits: PTI
4. EVM the 'chor machine': 'It is not the question of ousting any single person but of saving the country'
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National Conference leader Farooq Abdullah Saturday called the EVM the "chor machine" and demanded that the ballot paper system be brought back for the sake of transparency. He said, "It is not the question of ousting any single person (Prime Minister Narendra Modi) but of saving the country and honouring the sacrifices of those who fought for its freedom."
Photo Credits: PTI
5. 'EVM is turning out to be a big threat to democracy, EC must revert to paper ballot system'
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Taking to Twitter, Andhra Pradesh CM Chandrababu Naidu said: "EVM is turning out to be a big threat to democracy. It is worrying to know the claims made on the possibility of tampering EVMs. EC must seek opinion of all political parties and revert to the paper ballot system immediately." However, earlier on Monday, the ECI clarified that the EVMs can’t be tampered with, asserting that the machines are manufactured following “rigorous standard operating procedures.”
Photo Credits: PTI
6. 'Congress has hilarious logics on EVM tampering, dementia has hit them'
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Rebuting the EVM tampering allegations Rajya Sabha MP and Former Union Cabinet Minister Subramanian Swamy took to Twitter and slammed Congress:
Congi logic on EVM tampering is hilarious. When Congi is in power in 2014 Then BJP in opposition can rig EVMs and win. When BJP is in power in 2018 Cong in opposition can win absolute majority defeating BJP!!! Dementia has hit Congi
— Subramanian Swamy (@Swamy39) January 22, 2019
Photo Credits: PTI
7. 'We will expose this claim, What was Kapil Sibal doing there?'
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Union minister Ravi Shankar Prasad on Tuesday claimed the Congress had organised the event in London where a self-proclaimed cyber expert alleged that the 2014 General Elections were rigged.
“We will expose this claim,” he said, “Is the Congress-sponsored event designed to defame the popular mandate of India?” “In 2014, the UPA [United Progressive Alliance] was in power, not us,” the minister added. “Where is the logic in accusing us of hacking EVMs when we were not in power?”
“What was Kapil Sibal doing there?” Prasad asked according to the Hindustan Times. “The BJP would like to ask that question. In what capacity was Kapil Sibal there? Sibal was there to monitor the event for the Congress. He keeps doing such things.”
Photo Credits: PTI
8. 'Why advanced country like Japan not using the EVMs?'
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Samajwadi Party president Akhilesh Yadav Tuesday questioned the use of electronic voting machines when even the more advanced nations were not using them. He said the Bharatiya Janata Party government was weakening democratic institutions. It is using them to suppress dissent and the voice of the opposition, he said. "Why does a country like Japan, which is very advanced in science and technology, is not using the EVMs? The question should be raised among the nation's 130 crore people, the SP chief said.
Photo Credits: PTI
