Dinesh Kamath's Editorial 'Is AAP right in blaming EVM for Punjab verdict?' that was published in Newsband

Is AAP right in blaming EVM for Punjab verdict?

AAP National convenor and Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal blamed EVM for Punjab verdict. The poll panel said the only alternative for verification of results was to file a petition before the High Court for necessary orders. Asking the Aam Aadmi Party to introspect on why it did not perform as it expected in the Punjab Assembly polls, the electoral body reiterated that EVMs were tamper-proof.

The AAP’s petition sought verification of the results. The EC said no credible material had been brought forth, ahead of the Punjab elections, to show that EVMs were tampered with. Dismissing the allegations of EVM tampering, the EC said various High Courts had also unequivocally reiterated that, given the effective technical and administrative safeguards, the voting machines could not be tampered and integrity of the electoral process was fully preserved.

On AAP’s contention that some foreign countries had stopped using EVMs, the EC replied that ECI-EVMs cannot be compared with machines of other countries and that most of the systems used in other countries are computer-based and controlled with Internet connectivity and hence, these could be vulnerable to ‘hacking’.

As regards the use of Voter Verifiable Paper Audit Trail (VVPAT) machines for further transparency and verifiability, the Commission said they would be deployed in a phased manner

The questions raised by Arvind Kejriwal are pertinent and relevant to our democracy. Someone should address this issue and settle it once for all. Just replacing the machine, once caught faulty is no remedy. What about the other machines which go unchecked and subsequently the votes casted on them. Even a single tampered vote is a blot on our democracy. May be this is reason why even tech savvy nations like US, England etc are not using EVMs.

In a democracy, elections are won and lost, leaders come and go. But democracy needs strong and non-partisan constitutional bodies like EC. It is agreed that India has been fortunate to so far have men of the unquestionable integrity and highest caliber run the EC. They have made Indian EC one of the most widely respected institutions in the world. So the opposition and the ruling parties together must ensure that respect these highest institutions command is not sullied in petty politics.

However, the AAP is not wrong in exercising its democratic right in displaying doubts about the EVMs and seeking verification of the results but when any kind of allegation is made, it should be supported by substantive proof.