Ahead of the announcement of dates for the Jharkhand and Maharashtra assembly elections, Congress leader Rashid Alvi demanded that voters use ballot papers instead of Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs). He expressed concerns that the BJP government and the Election Commission could manipulate EVMs, stating, “If Israel can kill people by tampering with their pagers, then anything can happen.” Alvi also noted Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s close ties with Israel.
On Tuesday, the Election Commission announced the election dates for Maharashtra and Jharkhand. Chief Election Commissioner Rajiv Kumar defended the reliability of EVMs, asserting that they are completely safe. He addressed concerns about EVM security, saying, “When pagers can be blown up, how can EVMs not be hacked?” Kumar emphasized that EVMs operate independently and are not connected to networks like pagers. The Commission is ready to answer any questions related to EVMs.
In response to Alvi’s claims, the Election Commission stated, “Our EVMs are stronger than Hezbollah’s pager.” Alvi linked EVM tampering to the prime minister’s friendship with Israel and urged the opposition in Maharashtra to insist on voting by ballot papers.
The opposition has consistently criticized the Election Commission over EVM concerns. Former Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav, despite his party’s success in the Lok Sabha elections, has refused to trust EVMs, stating that he cannot rely on them even if he forms a government.
Alvi, referencing the alleged conversion of Hezbollah’s pagers and walkie-talkies into explosive devices by Israel, warned that the BJP government and the Election Commission could manipulate the electoral process. “A significant game with EVMs could happen anywhere, and the BJP plays these tricks before elections,” he cautioned.
Chief Election Commissioner Rajiv Kumar dismissed the Congress’s allegations of EVM tampering in the Haryana elections, reiterating that the machines are “100 percent foolproof” and cannot be hacked like Hezbollah’s pagers.