Fearing tampering with EVMs, Cong pitches tent outside college

Sandeep Rana
Tribune News Service
Chandigarh, May 21 

Suspecting tempering with EVMs, some Congress leaders pitched a tent outside the Chandigarh College of Engineering and Technology (CCET) in Sector 26, where EVMs have been kept yesterday night.

“Through news and social media, we got to know about EVM tampering in states such as Haryana. So, we suspect it can happen here too. We trust the police and the administration, but we are only going to add as an extra support to them,” said Yadwinder Mehta, Chandigarh Congress secretary and social media in-charge.

He, including three other Congress leaders, will stay outside the college 24*7 till May 23 when the counting will be done. Mehta said they had sat here last evening, but the police asked them to take permission from the Election Commission, which delayed everything.

Slamming the move, the BJP and the AAP said the Congress had sensed its defeat. “It is a photo opportunity created by the Congress. They are blaming EVMs rather than their leadership. These are the same EVMs that gave them victory in the recent three state elections. They are only enacting a drama which every common man is able to understand,” said city BJP chief Sanjay Tandon.

Laughing off the Congress’ action, AAP candidate Harmohan Dhawan said, “Those who feel insecure indulge in such type of activities. With huge security and administration, no one can expect such a thing in Chandigarh. It is not a remote area. It is impossible. I have full faith in officials and the police.”

The counting centre is already being guarded by a three-tier security circle with round-the-clock presence of the local police, the Indian Reserve Battalion (IRB) and the Central Armed Police Forces (CAPF). Twelve CCTVs have also been installed to keep surveillance, besides PCRs and quick reaction teams.