CPM wants EC to make EVMs!
CPM asked the Election Commission to take the entire manufacturing process of electronic voting machines under its control saying it was possible to manipulate the chips at various stages.
By ET Bureau |
NEW DELHI: CPM on Monday asked the Election Commission to take the entire manufacturing process of electronic voting machines (EVMs) under its control saying it was possible to manipulate the chips at various stages.
CPM leaders Prakash Karat and Sitaram Yechury, during a two-hour meeting with the full Election Commission, listed out their apprehensions, which included the possibility of incorporating a 'Trojan Horse' into the chip. "There is possibility of manipulation of chips during manufacturing, insertion and transportation stages," the leaders said.
They told the poll panel that EVMs lacked control over the entire technical process and there was no third-party check, inspection or guarantee on the programming of chips used. CPM demanded that an exclusive technical department be set up so that the manufacturing process can be done under the control of the Election Commission.
CPM leaders, accompanied by member secretariat V Srinivasa Rao and a technical expert Prabir Purkayastha, told the commission and technical experts present at the meeting that both hardware and software should be in public domain. Further, it said the chips manufactured by ECIL, BEL should be allowed for yearly random third-party inspections either by NIC or IITs. Besides this, it said all machines should be randomly changed from state to state within the country in every election and a verification tool should be developed and made available to all.
They said these steps were necessary to 'restore the 'confidence' in EVMs as there have been "reporting of errors in some machines and discrepancies in results". It pointed out that some western countries, particularly in Europe, had banned use of EVMs. The voting machines used in India are not only unique but simple and almost impossible to manipulate.
CPM reiterated its demand to the poll panel to convene an all-party meeting to clear all doubts about the machines.
CPM leaders Prakash Karat and Sitaram Yechury, during a two-hour meeting with the full Election Commission, listed out their apprehensions, which included the possibility of incorporating a 'Trojan Horse' into the chip. "There is possibility of manipulation of chips during manufacturing, insertion and transportation stages," the leaders said.
They told the poll panel that EVMs lacked control over the entire technical process and there was no third-party check, inspection or guarantee on the programming of chips used. CPM demanded that an exclusive technical department be set up so that the manufacturing process can be done under the control of the Election Commission.
CPM leaders, accompanied by member secretariat V Srinivasa Rao and a technical expert Prabir Purkayastha, told the commission and technical experts present at the meeting that both hardware and software should be in public domain. Further, it said the chips manufactured by ECIL, BEL should be allowed for yearly random third-party inspections either by NIC or IITs. Besides this, it said all machines should be randomly changed from state to state within the country in every election and a verification tool should be developed and made available to all.
They said these steps were necessary to 'restore the 'confidence' in EVMs as there have been "reporting of errors in some machines and discrepancies in results". It pointed out that some western countries, particularly in Europe, had banned use of EVMs. The voting machines used in India are not only unique but simple and almost impossible to manipulate.
CPM reiterated its demand to the poll panel to convene an all-party meeting to clear all doubts about the machines.
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