This video has gone Viral and that's not a surprise. In the post-truth era where the media is being lured away from dispassionate investigations, it is no wonder that it is on Facebook that this EVM Scam has been unearthed. And its a development that could give credence to allegations of election fraud.
Update: The Election Commission has sought a detailed report from the district poll authorities in Bhind, Madhya Pradesh on media reports that VVPAT was only dispensing slips of BJP symbol during a demonstration exercise, PTI reports. An Assembly bypoll is due in Bhind next week and the demonstration was part of the familiarisation exercise.
“We have sought a detailed report from district election officer and would come up with a response in the evening,” a Commission spokesperson said. The voters see Voter-verifiable paper audit trail (VVPAT) slip for seven seconds, which would be an acknowledgement receipt for the party they voted for in the election.
This Video has gone Viral and that's not a surprise. In the post-truth era where the media is being lured away from dispassionate investigations, it is no wonder that it is on Facebook that this EVM Scam has been unearthed. And its a development that could give credence to allegations of election fraud.
An EVM machine with VVPAT attached, to be used for the forthcoming April 9 bypoll in Madhya Pradesh’s Ater has been found to be designed to only vote in favour of the BJP candidate. Could dozens or thousands or lakhs of such EVMs then be programmed to achieve such results? In Maharashtra, UP, Gujarat, the North East?
What is worse is the apparent subversion by the office of the election commission. The video of Madhya Pradesh’s Chief Electoral Officer, Salina Singh, carrying out inspection of EVM machine in the constituency has now gone viral.
In the video (above), Singh is seen surrounded by several election officials who try to test the accuracy of the machine by pressing the number four button of a VVPAT machine.
However to everyone’s utter shock, the paper receipt showed the vote had in fact gone in favour of the BJP, whose election symbol, lotus, was against the first button and not the number four button.
When questioned, Singh asked the reporters not to report the incident adding that the act could land them in jail.
Will there be an Investigation? Will the officer be questioned, even prosecuted? Is there Justice for All?