EVM Saga: In the ongoing discourse on Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs) and Voter-verified Paper Audit Trail (VVPAT), Congress General Secretary Jairam Ramesh responded to the latest letter from the Election Commission.Lets delve into the details of this exchange and the concerns raised by the INDIA bloc.Election Commissions Assurance Not EnoughRamesh expressed that the matter concerning EVMs and VVPATs was not only a concern for the INDIA bloc but for all political parties. The Election Commission had refuted allegations, affirming its trust in EVMs. However, Ramesh contended that the response lacked substance, failing to address legitimate queries and concerns.Persistent Requests for Dialogue IgnoredDespite repeated requests for an audience with the Election Commission, Ramesh noted a lack of engagement. The Commission, in turn, directed queries to generic FAQs, which Ramesh found inadequate. He stressed that the Commissions refusal to engage with political participants was a grave concern affecting all political parties.Legal Orders and Political ParticipationRamesh highlighted the Commissions reliance on judicial orders, stating that litigations did not dismiss the raised queries. He asserted that ongoing judicial proceedings did not prevent the Commission from discussing or hearing suggestions from the INDIA bloc.Unprecedented Denial of OpportunityExpressing disappointment, Ramesh noted the Commissions unprecedented denial of the INDIA blocs opportunity to meet. Despite the blocs significant political representation, the Commission continued to deny an audience, a situation Ramesh termed unfortunate.Respectful Appeal for DialogueIn a final appeal, Ramesh urged the Commission to meet a small delegation of INDIA parties and consider their views on the VVPAT issue. With upcoming General Elections on the horizon, he stressed the urgency of addressing these concerns.Background: On January 5, the Election Commission refuted Rameshs allegations, asserting confidence in the legal framework and technical security of EVMs. The ongoing debate stems from concerns raised by the INDIA bloc regarding the use of EVMs and VVPATs in elections.
