EVM-laden vehicles caught in Uttar Pradesh: There has been a ruckus in Uttar Pradesh on the issue of EVMs ahead of the results to be declared on March 10. On Tuesday evening, two vehicles were caught by the Samajwadi Party leaders while transporting EVMs from Pahariya Mandi in Varanasi after that there was a lot of uproar. While the Samajwadi Party is alleging EVM tampering, the DM of Varanasi says that these EVMs found in vehicles have nothing to do with electoral EVMs, these EVM machines were for training. However, Samajwadi Party refuses to accept this and they are constantly standing outside the strong room premises. Meanwhile, on the issue of EVMs in Varanasi, the Divisional Commissioner has accepted the mistake.
Divisional Commissioner of Varanasi Deepak Agarwal said that the protocol was not followed in the movement of EVMs being taken for training. However, he also clearly said, “These EVMs are completely different from the voting EVMs, if they wish, candidates can match it. He said that the EVMs found in the vehicle should be matched with the EVMs used in the polling, if the evm number matches then we are guilty, but it is not so. All the spectators are sitting here.” He said that I can say with certainty that tampering with voting EVMs is impossible. There is three layer security.
Let us tell you that there are multiple videos of EVM-laden vehicle being caught in Uttar Pradesh going viral on social media. Since then SP supporters are protesting in many parts of the state. Hundreds of SP workers have gathered outside different counting sites and are demanding action against the DM.
On the allegations of tampering of EVMs by SP chief Akhilesh Yadav, Varanasi DM Kaushal Raj Sharma said that the caught EVMs had nothing to do with electoral EVMs. Varanasi DM said, “All the candidates have been called, the list of EVMs used on the day of polling has been mailed to them. Hard copy is being given today. These 20 EVMs (for training) are kept separately in the vehicle. Numbers are being tallied and candidates are being shown that these are not voting EVMs. Both the sets of EVMs are not connected to each other.”
On the other hand, SP Chief Akhilesh Yadav has alleged, “This DM is creating disturbances. I know this very well. Everyone knows under whom this DM is working. The Election Commission should take immediate action against the District Magistrate, Banaras. I have no hope from the Election Commission. People themselves will have to fight to save democracy. I have also demanded a jammer at the counting center so that there is no technical breach. How can the predictions made by those in power come exactly in the exit polls?”