Former President of India Pranab Mukherjee on Monday, May 21 issued a statement expressing his concerns about the safety and security of Electronic Voting Machines.
He wrote, “I am concerned over reports of alleged tampering of voters’ verdict,” adding that the safety and security of EVMs was the Election Commission of India’s responsibility. His remark came after multiple reports of alleged illegal movements of EVM flooded in from the northern states of Uttar Pradesh, Bihar and Haryana.
He further said, “Onus of ensuring institutional integrity lies with Election Commission; it must put all speculation to rest.”
Please read my statement below.#CitizenMukherjee pic.twitter.com/UFXkbv06Ol
— Pranab Mukherjee Legacy Foundation- PMLF (@CitiznMukherjee) May 21, 2019
He said that there can be no room for speculations that challenge the very basis of the Indian democracy, and that “People’s mandate is sacrosanct and has to be above any iota of reasonable doubt.”
EC’s independence and its role in ensuring the safety of EVMs and EVM strong rooms has been questioned in the recent past considering the constitutional body’s explanations have failed to allay fears of EVM tampering.