EVMs’ verification stalled as Congress leader puts conditions
Tribune News Service
Karnal, August 20
Divyanshu Budhiraja, the Congress candidate who lost to former CM ML Khattar in the Karnal Lok Sabha constituency, has raised questions about the integrity of the recently held Lok Sabha elections.
After the results were declared on June 4, he approached the Election Commission of India (ECI) demanding re-verification of the burnt memory/microcontrollers of EVMs at four booths – two in Karnal and two in Panipat. While the verification for Panipat EVMs was scheduled for Monday, Karnal EVMs are set for August 21.
During the verification process in Panipat on Monday, Budhiraja requested the verification and checking with three specific conditions, due to which the verification and checking could not be done.
As per the authorities, these conditions — using the party symbols of contesting candidates, setting the control unit date to May 25, and displaying the result slip timing from the control unit as per the polling day — were not in line with ECI guidelines, due to which the district administration could not proceed with the verification and has referred the issue to the Chief Electoral Officer of Haryana.
Budhiraja has accused the BJP of manipulating the EVMs to secure their victory. He alleged that the BJP fixed the election results. He has written to the Panipat District Election Officer, urging immediate action on the matter and has indicated his intention to seek justice in court.
Panipat DC-cum-District Election Officer, Virender Dahiya, said Budhiraja’s conditions did not align with ECI guidelines, due to which checking and verification could not be done. “We cannot ignore the ECI guidelines. The entire process was videographed, and a report has been submitted to the CEO of Haryana,” said the DC.
