Face of Nation : Chief Election Commissioner Sunil Arora has said allegations of electronic voting machines (EVM) tampering is ‘more than unfair’ and made with ‘criminal intent’. The machines might malfunction occasionally, as does equipment used for other purposes, but it cannot be tampered with, Arora said Saturday at the annual business conclave at IIM-Calcutta.
“Malfunctioning is very different from tampering. The EVMs cannot be tinkered with. If you say otherwise, you have a criminal intent, which we deeply resent,” asserted Sunil Arora. He was in the city to attend events organised by the West Bengal National University of Juridical Sciences and IIM (Calcutta).
Noting that two ‘highly reputed’ public firms have designed the EVMs, Arora said, “The EVMs were made in a secure environment and distinguished emeritus professors of reputed institutes have supervised the entire process””
“The charges hurt the integrity of the Election Commission (EC) and those involved in the process of making the voting machines. EVMs cannot be tampered with, but they can malfunction just like the equipment used by you in everyday life.”
Sunil Arora also described the role of the EC in conducting polls. “Election is all about law and Constitution on one hand, and administration and management on the other. Every organ has its own importance,” Arora stated.
