"Double-standards would not work": Union Minister Sukanta Majumdar criticises Congress on EVM functioning allegations
Dec 16, 2024
New Delhi [India], December 16 : Union Minister Sukanta Majumdar criticised the Congress for questioning the functioning of Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs), stating that their allegations lack any logical or scientific basis.
The Union Minister told ANI, "It is not possible for anyone to substantiate the complaints about EVMs with logical or scientific reasoning. How long will you continue to mislead the public?"
He questioned the opposition's inconsistent stance, saying, "Wherever you win, you claim that 'EVMs are fine,' and wherever you lose, you question the EVMs. This is not right. Your stand should be consistent. Double standards will not work."
Amid the Opposition's doubts over the reliability of EVMs, Trinamool Congress MP and National General Secretary Abhishek Banerjee on Monday disagreed with the Congress on the matter. He dismissed the allegations as "random statements" and urged those making such claims to demonstrate how EVMs could be hacked.
"The people who question EVMs should present evidence and show a demonstration to the Election Commission. If the EVM randomisation process is conducted properly and booth workers verify during mock polls and counting, then I don't see any substance in these allegations," he said.
He further added, "If anyone still believes that EVMs can be hacked, they should approach the Election Commission and demonstrate how it can be done. Simply making random statements achieves nothing."
The Congress had earlier raised doubts about EVMs following the party's loss in the Haryana and Maharashtra Assembly elections. The party also approached the Election Commission to express concerns about the electoral process in Maharashtra.
"EVMs are a part of the election process. However, there are broader issues with the entire election machinery in the Maharashtra Assembly elections, including targeted manipulation. The results of these elections are inexplicable and raise serious questions about democracy," Congress leader Jairam Ramesh told ANI on December 1.
