CHANDIGARH, June 12: Punjab Pradesh Congress Committee President Captain Amarinder Singh today sought probe into the reports of tampering of the electronic voting machines (EVMs) in Amritsar.
He has also written to the Chief Election Commissioner of India seeking detailed investigation about the EVM working and if and how these can be made foolproof as some developed democracies had already reverted back to ballot papers.
Referring to the reports of EVM tampering in Amritsar by the hackers hired by the Akalis, PCC President said that the Congress in Punjab has been consistently maintaining that the EVMs were not tamper-proof and these can be manipulated and these have been manipulated time and again.
He disclosed that the Deputy Commissioner of Amritsar had reportedly raised the matter with the State Election Commission for ordering repolling in some wards were some youth were found to be using wireless technology like Wifi and Bluetooth to tamper the EVMs to alter the results.
The PCC President stated that similar things were reported during the assembly election as well and now these have been repeated in the Municipal Corporation elections also. He pointed out during the MC elections the total control is with the state administration which is under direct control of the Punjab government. Even during the assembly elections the EVMs remain in the custody of the state officials.
Moreover, he added, when there are reports that Wifi and Bluetooth technology was being used in tampering the machines even the tight security will not be any deterrent. He said, the issue needs a thorough investigation by the technical experts from the field. Otherwise, he added, the elections will hardly served any purpose as long as the EVMs are programmed for a particular result as has been reported from different places.
Capt Amarinder remarked, “you never know whether it has happened at other places as well, as also during the assembly elections which now appears be a strong possibility, as the doubts have started being confirmed”. This, he added, calls for a thorough investigation from all aspects.