The Aryavarth Express
Agency(Bhopal): Veteran Congress leader and former Chief Minister of Madhya Pradesh, Digvijaya Singh, has voiced fresh doubts regarding the neutrality of Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs) and the conduct of the Election Commission. In his statement to ANI, Singh referred to a 2018 resolution by the All India Congress Committee (AICC) expressing concerns about the fairness of elections conducted via EVMs. The Congress party demands that forthcoming general elections be conducted using ballot papers.
Singh criticized the Election Commission’s response to their queries about EVM neutrality, which he claimed was limited to providing manuals and FAQs. He expressed a lack of trust in EVMs, alleging that the directors on the board of Bharat Electronics Limited (BEL), the manufacturer of EVMs, have connections with the ruling BJP.
Further commenting on Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s social media post about fulfilling resolutions for farmers’ welfare, Singh questioned the credibility of Modi’s promises, citing unfulfilled guarantees like the deposit of Rs 15 lakh in every citizen’s account and issues regarding the Minimum Support Price (MSP) for crops.
Digvijaya Singh was scheduled to participate in a peaceful protest organized by ‘EVM Hatao Morcha’ at Jantar Mantar in Delhi, demanding the Lok Sabha elections to be conducted without EVMs. He highlighted the cancellation of permission for the protest, questioning the central government’s apprehensions about the demonstration, which was expected to draw thousands from across the country. Singh’s statement indicates a movement against EVMs spreading to villages nationwide, urging the Election Commission and the Supreme Court to take cognizance of these concerns.