Hold elections through ballot paper to dispel doubts over EVM: Sukhu

Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu today said that to dispel apprehensions over the authenticity of electronic voting machines (EVMs), all elections should be held through ballot paper.

Sukhu, while talking to mediapersons here, said that countries that had invented EVMs had abandoned them and were holding elections through ballot paper. “Any technology can be hacked, so to remove doubts, why not hold elections through ballot papers,” he added. Even Elon Musk had made such remarks about the hacking of EVMs, he asserted.

The Chief Minister dedicated development projects worth Rs 43.37 crore to the people of the Kasumpti Assembly constituency in Shimla district. He inaugurated the Zila Parishad Bhawan at Chalonthi and the building of Government College, Koti, constructed at a cost of Rs 21.36 crore.

Sukhu said that well-off people, including ministers, MLAs, officers and employees, should not avail of water and electricity subsidy and should pay the full bills. “We are bringing about a change to ensure that those who can afford to pay should not get subsidies on water and electricity bills. The subsidies for weaker sections will continue,” he added.

He said that BJP leaders were flaring up petty issues on social media platforms with a motive to defame the state government nationwide. “I am not the one to be intimidated by such criticism and will continue to take decisions in the interest of the state and strengthen the derailed economy,” he added.

The Chief Minister said that his government had inherited empty coffers from the previous BJP regime. “The BJP government had opened 900 institutions in six months before the Assembly elections but it still faced defeat. Now, BJP leaders are making irrelevant statements out of frustration,” he added.

Sukhu said that these measures were not taken for electoral gains but to improve the lives of rural people. “The BJP government had favoured wealthy people and distributed freebies to their favorites but the Congress government is focusing on the welfare of all sections of society,” he claimed.

Rural Development and Panchayati Raj Minister Anirudh Singh thanked the Chief Minister for dedicating various development projects. He said that significant development works were under implementation in the constituency, including a Rs 40 crore road project.