Expert: EC silent on EVM tampering

BHUBANESWAR: Election watch group functionary V V Rao, who is now on a countrywide tour making public demonstration to prove that EVMs used in elections could be tampered with easily to the advantage of interested parties and candidates, on Monday accused the Election Commission of India of showing not much interest for transparency in the existing voting system.
Rao's reaction came after failing to get ECI's response for a demonstration of the EVM before it. "We requested the ECI to invite us for a live demonstration at its office and sent reminders as well. We waited in New Delhi several days. But no call came", Rao, who recently conducted a mock public voting here to prove the danger of EVMs, said in a release.
The IT expert said the ECI in a communication dated August 8 has stated that it had invited us but we did not turn up for doing the demonstration. "It is blatant lie. The ECI did not call us, but has issued a statement to the contrary. It is a completely false statement", he said.
Rao said he along with two others, Arun and Vasavya, had moved the apex court on the issue which advised them to approach the ECI. "It was at the Supreme Court's order we had gone to the ECI, but the latter seems trying to sweep the matter under the carpet. It is saying one thing within the four walls of its office, but making a different statement in public", Rao said over phone from Chennai where he made a similar demonstration before people from different strata of society, including lawyers, retired bureaucrats and politicians. "Our apprehensions mentioned before the Supreme Court about the ignorance of the ECI towards any concerns on the EVMs or the entire process involved in the elections using EVMs has come true. This clearly shows the intentions of ECI not to listen to the genuine concerns on the vulnerabilities in the EVMs. Such a stand not only violates the order of Supreme Court but also avoid questions which are extremely relevant and important for free and fair elections which can alone strengthen the democracy", Rao remarked.
He demanded the ECI to withdraw its statement forthwith and said they would soon approach it again on the same issue. "For the greater interest of democracy in India and creating ground for fair elections we will approach the ECI again. If the ECI does not accept our demand we will have no option but to move the Supreme Court", he pointed out. Rao said a 'Forum for promoting verifiability, transparency and accountability in Indian elections' (VeTA-India) had since been constituted to carry forward the nationwide campaign on the election issue, including the liability of EVMs. "More than 15 noted personalities, including retired bureaucrats and technocrats, have given their consent to join this mission", he said.