M.G. Devasahayam advocates for ballot papers over EVMs, citing concerns over democracy
Bengaluru: M.G. Devasahayam, the convener of the Forum for Electoral Integrity and a retired IAS officer, has called for the dropping of Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs) in favor of traditional paper ballots, asserting that EVMs pose a threat to democracy.
Speaking at a press conference held at a private hotel, Devasahayam said that fair and impartial elections can only be ensured through the use of ballot papers. He criticized the EVM and Voter Verified Paper Audit Trail (VVPAT) systems, stating that they do not align with democratic principles as voters are unable to verify their choices before casting their votes.
Devasahayam highlighted the lack of transparency regarding the manufacturing and sourcing of EVMs and VVPATs, raising concerns about the integrity of elections. He questioned the Election Commission's control over the electoral process, particularly in light of Aadhaar linkage to voter cards and the supervision of state-owned companies over EVMs.
Despite requests for information under the Right to Information Act, Devasahayam expressed disappointment over the Election Commission's delayed response and lack of transparency regarding EVMs. He stressed that EVMs do not offer adequate protection against tampering or fraudulent voting.
The press conference also featured Supreme Court Advocate Muhammad Pracha, writer Agrahara Krishnamurthy, and journalist S.R. Aradhya, who supported Devasahayam's call for a return to paper ballots.
Concerns were raised over the vulnerability of EVMs to hacking and virus attacks, prompting calls for a return to the use of traditional ballot papers for voting.
The event concluded with a petition signed by 112 technicians, experts, senior citizens, and civil service officers, urging the Election Commission to address the concerns raised about the integrity of the electoral process under the current EVM system.
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UP: Misled by GPS navigation, car falls into river from partially constructed bridge, 3 dead
Bareilly (UP), Nov 24: Three people died when their car fell into the Ramganga river from a partially constructed bridge here on Sunday, police said, adding that they suspect the driver was misled by its navigation system into taking the unsafe route.
The accident occurred around 10 am on the Khalpur-Dataganj road when the victims were travelling from Bareilly to Dataganj in the Badaun district, they said.
"Earlier this year, floods had caused the front portion of the bridge to collapse into the river, but this change had not been updated in the system," Circle Officer Ashutosh Shivam said.
The driver was using a navigation system and did not realise that the bridge was unsafe, driving the car off the damaged section, the police said.
There were no safety barriers or warning signs on the approach to the damaged bridge, leading to the fatal accident, Shivam said.
Upon receiving information, police teams from Faridpur, Bareilly and Dataganj police station rushed to the spot. They recovered the vehicle and the bodies from the river, Shivam added.
The circle officer said that bodies had been sent for post-mortem. Further investigation into the matter is underway.
— Bareilly Police (@bareillypolice) November 24, 2024
