AAP leaders meet CEC, allege EVMs not secure

Tribune News Service

New Delhi, February 14

A delegation of the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) today met the Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) here and sought an inquiry over the alleged breach of security of EVMs at strong rooms in Punjab.

The delegation, led by Delhi Deputy CM Manish Sisodia and comprising party leaders HS Phoolka, Ashutosh and Raghav Chadha, submitted a memorandum alleging that there are multiple instances of breach in EVMs’ safety in the state, where the party is hopeful of forming the government.

Sisodia said they had pointed out the recent security breaches in strong rooms. He said they had also mentioned about the May 2015 notification of the EC which detailed instructions regarding the storage, physical verification and movements of EVMs and that the set norms were “not being complied”.

“Major lapses in the security of EVMs have been noticed across the state. Two recent events have brought to the fore gross and criminal negligence on the part of ROs in handling the security of the EVMs,” read the memorandum.

Sisodia alleged that EVMs were moved out of a strong room in Patiala in complete violation of the EC norms. “The RO along with other officials entered the strong rooms on the pretext of procuring certain documents. But it was found that they were moving steel boxes in which the EVMs were kept. We have demanded an inquiry into the matter,” Sisodia said.

AAP leader Raghav Chadha claimed that in some districts in the state EVMs were kept in schools where there was regular movement of teachers, a clear violation of the rules.