Election Commission should ensure the security of EVMs: Raghav Chadha
Election Commission should deploy paramilitary forces outside the strong room, adequate number of CCTV cameras should be installed and online link should be provided to all the candidates – Raghav Chadha
Chandigarh, February 23
The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) has demanded the Election Commission to strengthen and upgrade the security system of EVMs. On Wednesday, AAP Punjab affairs co-in-charge Raghav Chadha has written a letter to the Chief Election Officer Punjab, demanding that EVMs should be monitored under a three-layer security system to remove the possibility of EVM tampering.
Raghav Chadha, in his letter, demanded from the Election Commission that the voting process for the Punjab Assembly elections has been completed peacefully, but various candidates of the Aam Aadmi Party have expressed concern over the lack of adequate security arrangements in the buildings where EVMs are kept. The reports are coming that buildings don’t have proper lighting and security.
Raghav Chadha made four demands from the Chief Election Officer, monitoring of EVMs with triple-layered security for the strong room and the deployment of paramilitary forces outside the strong room including the current police security. Adequate number of CCTV cameras should be installed inside and outside the strong room. The movement of people inside the strong room should be recorded on CCTV and online link of live feed should be provided to all the candidates to clear their doubts.
Chadha said that to strengthen democracy, it is the duty of the Election Commission to ensure free, fair and transparent elections, which is one of the bases of the Constitution of India. Free and transparent elections can be held only when the EVMs in which the sentiments of 2 crore people of Punjab are stored are completely safe. Many other parties, including the Aam Aadmi Party, fear that EVMs may not be completely secure in the present security system. Therefore, the Election Commission should seriously consider AAP’s demands to ensure the safety of EVMs and remove the apprehensions of all the candidates immediately.
