Videos Of EVMs Being Transported Unprotected Goes Viral But EC Says Everything Is Fine
With just two days to go for the Lok Sabha Election results to be announced social media is abuzz with all kind of conspiracy theories. The most prominent one being EVM tampering. This has been fueled by a number of videos making rounds on social media since Monday night allegedly showing EVMs being transported without any security. Videos for suspicions transport of EVMs have also emerged from parts of Punjab and Bihar.
With just two days to go for the Lok Sabha Election results to be announced, social media is abuzz with all kind of conspiracy theories, the most prominent one being EVM tampering.
This has been fueled by a number of videos making rounds on social media since Monday night, allegedly showing EVMs being transported without any security.
BCCL/Representational Image
The most widely circulated video is said to be from Chandauli, in UP where a group of men can be seen unloading EVMs from a vehicle and stacking them up inside a shop.
Without any comment, an EVM video from Chandauli, UP.
¡ª Ravi Nair (@t_d_h_nair) May 20, 2019
pic.twitter.com/Gmwj638mdo
Similar videos have surfaced from Ghazipur, Domariaganj, and Jhansi. Videos for suspicions transport of EVMs have also emerged from parts of Punjab and Bihar too.
some facts and evidence of EVM and filthy Game of BJP.#EVM machines found in a car with no security in Punjab.
¡ª Shalu (@Shalupcrf) May 20, 2019
pic.twitter.com/CtwejdGdxA
Another EVMs video from UP (from Jhansi)
¡ª AAP Panipat (@panipataap) May 21, 2019
Officials claim these are reserve machines. But they have no answer why the movement of EVM was not informed to candidates.
And why reserve EVMs are transported in private vehicles a day after election? #ExitPoll2019
#EVM #EVMHacking pic.twitter.com/MbB6J6D0lx
Deoghar: RJD and Jharkhand Vikas Morcha(JVM) workers stop a truck alleging that EVMs were being transported in boxes. SDO Vishal Sagar says 'All boxes are empty, the EVMs were already sent to Dumka for counting, you can check yourself' #Jharkhand pic.twitter.com/7VIjOMb8L1
¡ª ANI (@ANI) May 21, 2019
After the videos created much uproar on social media the Election Commission clarified that EVMs are safe in sealed strong rooms under security, CCTV coverage, and surveillance of candidates.
Polled EVMs are safe in sealed strong rooms under security, CCTV coverage and surveillance of candidates. There is no possibility of changing EVMs. Don't panic and keep faith.@ECISVEEP #DeshKaMahaTyohar #LokSabhaElections2019
¡ª CEO UP #DeshKaMahaTyohar (@ceoup) May 21, 2019
Shiv Sahay Awasthi, District Election Officer Jhansi on EVM issue: Some polling parties arrived late however all EVMs were put in place in the strong room by 7 am. The strong room has been sealed in presence of general observers and candidates under CCTV surveillance. pic.twitter.com/4dfrWdQeam
¡ª ANI UP (@ANINewsUP) May 21, 2019
The EC has however failed to address how stand-by EVMs were transported in violation of the rules.
The allegations come at a time when a number of political parties including TMC, AAP, and others have raised concerns over EVM tampering.
Even Congress President Rahul Gandhi had criticized the EC accusing the election watchdog of bias.
Here is the EC guidelines for the storage and transportation of reserved EVMs during and immediately after the election.https://t.co/U8LQuErcDK pic.twitter.com/wGzYeOenjk
¡ª Ravi Nair (@t_d_h_nair) May 20, 2019
¡°From Electoral Bonds & EVMs to manipulating the election schedule, NaMo TV, ¡®Modi¡¯s Army¡¯ & now the drama in Kedarnath; the Election Commission¡¯s capitulation before Mr Modi & his gang is obvious to all Indians. The EC used to be feared & respected. Not anymore,¡± he said in a tweet.
Bobins Abraham is the Assistant News Editor at Indiatimes. He has more than twelve years of experience in TV and digital journalism. An avid student of history and geopolitics, he is a conservationist and environmentalist at heart. He writes on environment, sustainability, human-animal conflict and more.
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