Concerned over reports of alleged tampering of voters' verdict: Pranab Mukherjee
New Delhi, May 21: Joining the ongoing controversy over EVMs, former President Pranab Mukherjee Tuesday expressed concern over the alleged tampering of voters' verdict saying the onus of ensuring institutional integrity lies with the Election Commission, which should put all speculation to rest.
He also said there can be no room for speculation that challenge the very basis of Indian democracy.
"I am concerned at reports of alleged tampering of voters' verdict. The safety and security of EVMs which are in the custody of ECI is the responsibility of the Commission," he said in a statement posted on his Twitter handle.
People's mandate is sacrosanct and has to be above any iota of reasonable doubt, he said.
"The onus of ensuring institutional integrity in this case lies with the Election Commission of India. They must do so and put all speculation to rest," he said.
Mukherjee said as a firm believer in the country's institutions, it is his considered opinion that it is the 'workmen' who decide how the institutional 'tools' perform.
Protests broke out in some parts of Uttar Pradesh on Tuesday after videos of alleged movement and tampering of EVMs went viral on social media, a charge dismissed by the EC as "frivolous" and "unfounded".
The Congress said the EC should take immediate and effective steps to address the complaints of movement of EVMs from strongrooms from various parts of the country.
Top opposition leaders, who met here on Tuesday, also decided to move the EC to press for their demand of tallying the paper trail of votes (VVPATs) with the EVM figures.
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Meta under fire for approving politically motivated ads during Lok Sabha elections
New Delhi: During the ongoing Lok Sabha elections, Meta, the parent company of Facebook and Instagram, faces criticism for approving politically motivated advertisements containing hate speech and disinformation. According to a recent report, Meta approved several ads manipulated by Artificial Intelligence (AI), spreading disinformation and targeting specific demographics.
The report reveals that despite rejecting some ads, including one targeting Prime Minister Modi for misinformation, Meta approved others that targeted Muslims, violating its own policies on hate speech, bullying, harassment, misinformation, and violence incitement. These approved ads contained slurs against Muslims and Hindu supremacist language, further exacerbating tensions.
India Civil Watch International (ICWI) and Ekō, an accountability organization, submitted 22 ads to Meta, of which 14 were approved, highlighting the platform's failure to detect harmful content. Although Meta stated it requires advertisers to disclose their use of AI, critics argue that the platform lacks effective measures to address hate speech and disinformation.
Meta's history of failing to curb Islamophobia on its platforms adds to the skepticism regarding its ability to regulate harmful content during critical events like elections. With concerns over the proliferation of hate speech and disinformation online, questions arise about Meta's responsibility in safeguarding its users and ensuring a fair electoral process.
