Bangalore: Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge has once again raised doubts about the integrity of electronic voting machines (EVMs), drawing attention to comments made by the business magnate Elon Musk indicating that the devices may have been compromised.
At an event at Congress Bhavan to pay tribute to former Prime Minister Indira Gandhi and Sardar Vallabh Bhai Patel here on Thursday, Kharge pointed out Musk’s expertise in technology and stated that the billionaire has claimed that EVMs can be modified and hacked through computer systems . “No major Western nation such as the US, Canada, Britain, Germany, France or Italy uses EVMs,” he added.
The Congress chief was also critical BJP leaders for their staunch defense of EVMs: “They (BJP) say that if we win, we will not blame the EVMs and demand ballots like in Telangana and Karnataka, but if the BJP wins, we will blame the EVMs,” he added. “We know their program (strategy).”
‘One nation, one election’ impractical’
Kharge refuted Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s plea for ‘One Nation, One Election’ and said this is ‘impossible’ without broad consensus in Parliament.
“If it comes up in Parliament, he has to take everyone into his confidence. Only then will this happen. This is impractical and impossible,” he said.
The Prime Minister had earlier made his case for simultaneous elections during the National Unity Day parade in Kevadia, Gujarat, stressing that the BJP-led central government is moving towards the ‘One Nation, One Election’ initiative to ‘strengthening Indian democracy’ and optimizing democracy. use of resources.
The opposition has opposed it, describing the concept as impractical and a potential threat to “federalism and democracy,” indicating deep divisions over the proposal.
On September 18, the Union Cabinet approved the ‘One Nation, One Election’ proposal, which calls for simultaneous Lok Sabha and Assembly elections along with city body and panchayat polls within 100 days. This initiative stems from recommendations of a powerful committee led by former President Ram Nath Kovind.
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Photo: Mallikarjun Kharge with CM Siddaramaiah and DCM DK Shivakumar
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