Political parties pitch for VVPAT
Source: The Sangai Express

Imphal, February 15, 2013: Ten political parties barring Congress and BJP have collectively urged the authorities concerned to fit electronic voting machines with voter verifiable paper audit trail (VVPAT) ahead of the Lok Sabha election.

Speaking to media persons at Irabot Bhavan today, CPI State secretary Dr M Nara who is also a key member of the 10 parties' core committee said that majority of the people are doubtful about the reliability of EVMs.

Voting in EVMs is no longer a popular mode of polling.

Saying that the issue of defective EVMs is not new in India, Dr Nara claimed that petitions filed against using EVMs at different courts have made significant progress.

Some countries have already banned EVMs.

With many political parties complaining against use of EVMs, the matter has now reached the Supreme Court.

VVPAT-fitted EVMs were used on experimental basis during by-election for an Assembly segment in Nagaland and it was a big success.

Once again, EVMs won back people's confidence.

Fitting EVMs with VVPAT can resolve any dispute if such a situation arises.

A Supreme Court verdict passed on October 8, 2013 directed authorities concerned to fit all EVMs with VVPAT for it can win back people's trust.

Acting on the Supreme Court directive, the Government of India gave its consent to two manufacturing companies to manufacture 13 lakh EVMs with VVPAT facilities ahead of the Lok Sabha election, Dr Nara said.

Saying that the two manufacturing companies are not in a position to deliver 13 lakh VVPAT fitted EVMs before the Lok Sabha election, ordinary EVMs may be used in the Lok Sabha election in Manipur.

"But we would not accept ordinary EVMs.

VVPAT fitted EVMs should provided or polling should done through secret ballot paper," Dr Nara asserted.

The core committee has already sent a representation in this regard to the Election Commission of India.

A case has also been filed at the High Court.

The core committee has decided to launch a strong protest movement in case ordinary EVMs should be used in the Lok Sabha election in Manipur.

Noting that the ECI has been planning to hold the Lok Sabha election in five/six phases across the country, Dr Nara maintained that polling for the two Lok Sabha seats of Manipur should be held on the same day.

This would considerably narrow down the possibility of manipulation.

Saying that nobody knows what has been done to EVMs while they are being kept in strong room for over a month, Dr Nara conveyed strong desire to hold the Lok Sabha election of Manipur in the last phase.

The understanding reached by the ten political parties to fight the Lok Sabha election collectively has opened a door to set up a long lasting political force, claimed Dr Nara.

On being enquired about the core committee's choice for the Outer Manipur P/C candidate, Dr Nara said that the core committee would field consensus candidates in both Inner Manipur P/C and Outer Manipur P/C.There are some complicated issues in the Outer Manipur P/C. Dr Nara said that the core committee condemned the act of forcing people to stand in long queues at long pumps even as the relevant Minister claimed that there was adequate quantities of fuel oils in stock.

The committee, taking serious note of the difficulties being encountered by public, has decided to investigate into the causes of fuel scarcity from tomorrow.

Wrongdoers would be identified and their modus operandi would be exposed before the public.

JD (U) State president M Tombi condemned racial discrimination and harassment of North Eastern people at Delhi and subsequent police crackdown on protesters.

JD (S) State president Manihar Goswami maintained that suspension of the security personnel involved in assaulting Imphal Free Press reporter Chaoba was not enough.

Befitting action should be taken up against all the accused, he demanded.

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