Days after the Election Commission (EC) set aside the INDIA bloc’s concerns on EVMs and VVPATs, Congress leader Jairam Ramesh on Monday wrote back to it expressing his discontent over the former’s refusal to meet the Opposition leaders. Ramesh said, “EC’s response illustrates why they need an audience to discuss unresolved and legitimate queries on EVMs and VVPATs; it is a matter of grave concern for all parties, not just INDIA parties."
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He also alleged his request, on behalf of the INDIA bloc leaders, to meet the officials of the Commission was turned down, besides the election body's failure to provide a suitable response over their ‘genuine’ concerns on EVMs. “The Election Commission’s response, while completely brushing aside our request for an appointment, has yet again failed to provide a substantive response to our queries and genuine concerns over EVMS,” the letter read.
Jairam said the Commission’s refusal to not entertain their plea on their ‘unresolved’ and ‘legitimate’ queries about EVMs and VVPATs was a matter of grave concern.
“This illustrates and underscores exactly why we have been asking the Commission for an audience, to discuss these unresolved and legitimate queries. Your point blank refusal to even engage with political participants on EVMS or VVPATS, is a matter of grave concern for all political Parties and not just those who belong to the INDIA alliance,” it reads.
“It is also surprising to note that the Hon'ble Commission has been taking refuge behind judicial orders while also reminding us that Public Interest Litigations filed on the issue of EVMS and VVPATS have been dismissed with monetary costs. Be that as it may, these litigations have no bearing on the queries raised,” the statement added.
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The Opposition leaders have time and again flagged their concerns over EVMs alleging that the voting machines are manipulated to provide benefit to the BJP.