Most parties have reposed faith in EVMs, says CEC Sunil Arora
Amaravati, Feb 12: Chief Election Commissioner Sunil Arora said Tuesday "most parties" have reposed their faith in Electronic Voting Machines, but expressed regret that some sections made it part of a "motivated slugfest".
He noted that there was a difference between tampering and malfunctioning (of EVMs) and asserted that "not a single case of tampering had been established so far".
The CEC, however, remained non-committal on the demand raised by various parties for counting of VVPAT slips though he said a vigorous exercise would be launched to create awareness on the VVPATs.
"Most parties reposed their faith in voting through the EVM, though some asked for counting of more VVPAT slips. Some wanted more hands-on demonstrations of the machines to familiarise voters on how to use these machines for voting to instill more confidence," the CEC said.
The former IAS officer observed that EVMs delivered a particular result in 2014.
"Subsequently, elections were held in Delhi, Gujarat, Maharashtra, Bihar, Madhya Pradesh, Tripura, Mizoram. There have been different results ever since. But why are EVMs made part of a motivated slugfest?" the CEC wondered.
Arora said the group of experts from Indian Statistical Organisation and National Sample Survey Organisation would submit its report soon on the possibility of counting VVPATs.
The CEC, who along with Election Commissioner Ashok Lavasa and other top officials of the ECI, reviewed the preparedness for the ensuing elections in Andhra Pradesh, briefed media about their two-day deliberations with the state officials and various political parties.
Arora called the purported "hacking" of EVMs recently the 'circus in London' and said the British Union of Journalists and the Indian Union of Journalists, that were supposed to have organised the event, had dissociated themselves with it.
"An FIR has already been filed against the person who claimed to be a former employee of ECIL but, in fact, was not. So far not even one case of EVM tampering could be proved even in courts," the CEC pointed out.
A committee of top experts, including directors of various IITs, was overseeing the functioning of EVMs.
Observing that the coming elections to the Lok Sabha and Andhra Pradesh Assembly were "doubly challenging and a formidable task", the CEC asserted that the ECI was committed to conduct free, fair, peaceful, transparent, ethical and inclusive elections.
"The Commission attaches prime importance to ensuring a conducive environment for peaceful elections in the state. We will have zero tolerance for any instances of gross impropriety and negligence (on part of officials)," he added.
"In case of 'proven malafide', the ECI would not hesitate to go further and launch criminal action against the errant personnel," Arora warned.
Referring to many complaints from various political parties on the electoral rolls in the state, he said a team of senior officials from the Commission would visit AP in the next few days to conduct a random audit of electoral rolls.
"The state Chief Electoral Officer will look into all complaints and take necessary action," he said.
Let the Truth be known. If you read VB and like VB, please be a VB Supporter and Help us deliver the Truth to one and all.
Man arrested with Rs 2.54-crore heroin in Mumbai
Mumbai (PTI): Police have arrested a man and seized over 500 grams of heroin worth Rs 2.54 crore in the illicit market from him in Mumbai, officials said on Friday.
The police's Anti-Narcotics Cell (ANC) made the drug seizure in Santacruz in the western suburbs. The operation was conducted by the Kandivali unit of the ANC on Thursday as part of a special crackdown against drug trafficking in the area, they said.
Acting on specific inputs, an ANC team conducted a raid in Santacruz (East) and intercepted a man. During a search, the team recovered 508 grams of high-grade heroin from his possession, an official said.
The seized contraband, a highly addictive, opioid drug derived from morphine, is estimated to be worth Rs 2.54 crore in the international market, he informed.
Following the seizure, a case was registered against the man under relevant sections of the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act, 1985, and he was formally placed under arrest in the early hours of Friday.
The police are currently investigating the source of the drug and trying to identify the intended recipients of the consignment, he said.
