HC raps AAP for doubting EVMs’ reliability

Punjab and Haryana high court on Thursday asked the Election Commission to ensure foolproof security of electronic voting machines (EVMs) used for February 4 polls in Punjab and came down heavily on the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) for doubting reliability of EVMs.

Punjab and Haryana high court on Thursday asked the Election Commission to ensure foolproof security of electronic voting machines (EVMs) used for February 4 polls in Punjab and came down heavily on the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) for doubting reliability of EVMs.

In the petition, AAPs Punjab unit had raised questions on the security of EVMs at strongrooms in Jalandhar, Phillaur, Shahkot, Jalandhar West and Tarn Taran. (HT Representative Image)

“You (AAP) rose to power on EVMs in Delhi… did you or did you not?” the HC division bench of justice Mahesh Grover and justice Shekher Dhawan said, orally observing that the AAP was trying to deride the process by raking up such issues. “If you win, it is fair. But otherwise, you say something else. That is not fair,” the HC bench observed, adding that the AAP should not have raised the issue of vulnerability of EVMs.

In the petition, AAPs Punjab unit had raised questions on the security of EVMs at strongrooms in Jalandhar, Phillaur, Shahkot, Jalandhar West and Tarn Taran.

CEO ALLAYS FEARS

Punjab chief electoral officer VK Singh said they have taken all possible steps to secure the EVMs. The EC has already installed CCTV cameras outside the strongrooms with monitors at the entrance. The strongrooms, he said, are virtually impregnable with two-tier security.