EVMs row: AAP protests outside EC office, demands elections be held with VVPATs

New Delhi: Days after AAP MLA Saurab Bhardwaj's demonstration on alleged manipulation of Electronic Voting Machines(EVMs) on the floor of the Delhi Assembly, the Aam Aadmi Party today staged a protest outside the Election Commission's office here demanding elections across the country be held with voter-verifiable paper audit trail (VVPAT) equipped machines. Scores of party workers holding placards gathered outside the Commission's office and shouted slogans 'vote chori bandh koro (stop stealing votes).

Today's protest of AAP is held under 'Save Democracy', which is led by Delhi Cabinet Minister and senior party leader Gopal Rai. The party's first demand is to conduct elections with VVPAT equipped EVMs. Second, match votes with slip trials at 25 percent random booths. "This issue (EVMs tampering) is not about AAP's victory or loss, this is to save democracy," the party stated. Earlier this morning, AAP in a series of tweets said, "EC claiming real EVM can't be hacked like that.

If handed over, we'll show that real EVM can be hacked in a similar manner." "This is not about victory or loss of AAP, this is to save democracy by ensuring free and fair elections. If today, ruling party manipulates EVMs in its favour, tomorrow foreign powers can also misuse vulnerability of our EVM," the party added. Taking a dig at the EC, Mr Bharadwaj tweeted, "Biggest proof of EVM tampering is not my demo. It was EC's demo in Bhind and Dhaulpur when all votes went to BJP." During the day-long special session of Delhi Assembly called by the AAP government, Mr Bharadwaj had shown that with feeding a code in the EVMs, how votes can be transferred to a party to make their party or candidate win.

However, taking cognisance of media reports regarding the so-called demonstration, the EC had said that it should be understood that it was possible for anyone to make any electronic gadget which "looks-like' ECI EVM and demonstrate "any magic or tampering.' The EC has also called for an all political parties meeting tomorrow over the EVM issues and other electoral reforms. (UNI)