‘EVMs’ burnt, Cong demands ballots be used during polls

KOTA:Demanding Common men and voters have also expressed doubts over EVM and not many countries use them, so the Election Commission of India should now think of conducting polls through ballot instead of EVMs. RAKESH SHARMA, former Congress block president

voting through ballots, Congressmen staged a demonstration against EVM machines by burning dummy EVMs on Monday.

Congressmen, led by former Congress block president Rakesh Sharma, assembled at the district collectorate of Kota. Leaders such as Yash Malviya and Ranveer Singh were also present.

Carrying cardboard prototypes of EVM machines, Congressmen shouted slogans against EVM machines and demanded that ballots be brought back. Later, they burnt dummies of EVM machines.

Rakesh Sharma said that not only the Congress but leaders of other political parties, including LK Advani of BJP, former chief ministers of Uttar Pradesh Akhilesh Yadav and Mayawati, chief minister of West Bengal Mamata Banerjee, have raised apprehensions on the possibility of fraud using EVM machines.

He said that EVMs can be hacked so they will continue protesting against EVMs.

“Common men and voters have also expressed doubts over EVM and not many countries use them, so the Election Commission of India should now think of conducting polls through ballot instead of EVMs,” he said.

Yash Malviya said that when large numbers of voters living in rural areas are illiterate, they face technical issues while casting vote through EVMs.

In a separate demonstration, Congress workers at Vigyan Nagar Chauraha in Kota City demonstrated against EVMs. The Congressmen were led by Indramohan Singh ‘Honey’, Kundan Cheeta and others.

“There is a ban on EVM machines in 120 countries across the world. Then why is Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the Election Commission of India adamant on the use of EVMs,” Malviya asked.

Congressmen also burnt prototypes of EVM machines along with the effigy of chief minister Vasundhara Raje.