New Delhi:
Congress president Rahul Gandhi today addressed the media after opposition parties met over the issue of alleged tampering of EVMs and develop their future course of action. During the interaction, Rahul slammed the government and said that many people doubt EVMs in India. He further added that the opposition leaders will meet on 4th February and will go to the election commission over EVMs.
Reacting to the Modi government’s last Budget before the polls, Rahul Gandhi said, “You can waive off Rs 3.5 Lakh Crore loan of 15 people but give only Rs 17 per day to farmers! What else is this, if not an insult? The election will be fought keeping in mind issue of farmers, unemployment & attacks on institutions, it'll also be on the issue of Rafale.”
The meeting was attended by Congress president Rahul Gandhi, NCP chief Sharad Pawar, National Conference leader Omar Abdullah, Samajwadi Party's Ram Gopal Yadav, Bahujan Samaj Party's Satish Chandra Mishra, DMK's Kanimozhi, Trinamool Congress' Derek O'Brien, CPI's D Raja, CPI-M's T K Rangarajan, Rashtriya Janata Dal's Manoj Jha, Aam Aadmi Party's Sanjay Singh, and Rashtriya Lok Dal leader Jayant Chaudhary, among others.
The Congress convened the meeting to discuss a joint strategy on the issue of alleged tampering of electronic voting machines (EVMs) as some parties have questioned their efficacy and demanded the EC revert to the old system of the ballot paper.
Various opposition parties have been claiming that only 2-3 countries across the world are using EVMs and the rest have reverted to the ballot paper system following complaints of EVM malfunctioning. The Congress, while supporting the demand, has maintained that since the Lok Sabha election is just around the corner, the EC should ensure counting of a paper trail in 50 per cent booths across the country to ensure there is no doubt in the minds of the voters.
