'Show us how it can be hacked', opposition divided on EVM issue

'Show us how it can be hacked', opposition divided on EVM issue; TMC questions Congress

Congress is not getting support from opposition parties on the issue of EVM. TMC has raised questions on Congress on this issue and said that if there is a problem in EVM then prove to the Election Commission how it can be hacked. At the same time, BJP has also attacked Congress on this issue. Read what TMC said.

HIGHLIGHTS

1.TMC MP Abhishek Banerjee said- Prove the hacking before the Election Commission.

2.Said- he does not think that there is any substance to the allegation.

New Delhi. Opposition parties seem to be divided among themselves on the issue of Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs). While some opposition parties, including Congress, have been constantly raising questions on EVMs, TMC, which is part of the INDI alliance, has expressed disagreement on this issue.

Trinamool Congress MP and party's national general secretary Abhishek Banerjee termed the allegations on this issue as mere thoughtless statements. He also demanded that those making such allegations should prove how EVMs can be hacked.

Election Commission should show the demo: Abhishek

Abhishek said, 'If the people who are questioning EVMs have anything, they should show a demo to the Election Commission. If the work has been done properly during EVM randomization and the people working at the booth check during mock polls and counting, then I don't think there is any substance to this allegation.'

He said, 'If anyone still thinks that EVMs can be hacked, then they should meet the Election Commission and show how EVMs can be hacked. Nothing can be achieved by just making random statements.'

Congress had raised questions

It is worth noting that earlier Congress had raised doubts on EVMs after losing the Haryana and Maharashtra assembly elections. The party had also met the Election Commission raising doubts on the election process in Maharashtra. Jairam Ramesh had told ANI on December 1, 'EVM is a part of the election process. There are glitches in the entire election machinery in the Maharashtra assembly elections and targeted manipulation has taken place.'

Meanwhile, Maharashtra CM Devendra Fadnavis on Monday took a dig at the Congress, alleging that the party finds flaws in EVMs only when they lose elections. Fadnavis said, "Whenever the Congress party loses elections, instead of introspecting, it blames someone else. Unless they introspect, they will not be able to win elections. When they (Congress) form government in Karnataka, Jharkhand, there is no problem with EVMs, but when they lose Maharashtra, they blame EVMs."

Congress should now realise: BJP

The BJP has also questioned the credibility of the Leader of Opposition in Lok Sabha, Rahul Gandhi. Union Minister Prahlad Joshi told reporters, "The Congress should at least realise this when the people of the Bharatiya Janata Party say this. They do not understand it when we say this, but now their allies are also saying this."

He said that at least now they (Congress) should understand this. They should realise that they will not be able to move forward with a leader like Rahul Gandhi. Mamata Banerjee is also saying the same thing, as well as NCP (SP) chief Sharad Pawar and (Samajwadi Party chief) Akhilesh Yadav. Dailymintz