IF electronic voting machines (EVM) have been hacked and are being used by the ruling party to subvert our democracy, then they should be replaced with ballot papers. It is about the very integrity of our republic. There can be no argument or quarrel about this. But there are two central questions that need to be answered here.
One, is a good majority of the electorate, the largest stakeholder, convinced that their vote has been stolen? Two, has it been convincingly and conclusively proven before a competent authority, like the Supreme Court of India, that it has been hacked? There is a sea of difference between saying EVMs can be hacked and have been hacked. Elections take place in a complex environment, under the gaze of millions. The question then is, have EVMs been hacked under such hypervigilance?
The hacking of the EVM in a somewhat static lab setting is very different from its manipulation in a dynamic public setting. Of course, EVMs are man-made machines; they can be made to behave differently by smart professionals. But can this be done publicly in the midst of several things at simultaneous play? If they can, evidence will have to be in real-time, not in retrospect.
This is also the nature of a commonsensical question that haunts an ordinary voter. It may be a stupid query for intelligent folks in the Congress, the biggest doubters of EVMs at this juncture (the biggest doubters before 2014 was the BJP). But they must answer it with patience and real-time evidence. Or else the party's credibility may be eroded, and its base may shrink further.
Denne historien er fra December 04, 2024-utgaven av The Morning Standard.
Start din 7-dagers gratis prøveperiode på Magzter GOLD for å få tilgang til tusenvis av utvalgte premiumhistorier og 9000+ magasiner og aviser.
Allerede abonnent ? Logg på
Denne historien er fra December 04, 2024-utgaven av The Morning Standard.
Start din 7-dagers gratis prøveperiode på Magzter GOLD for å få tilgang til tusenvis av utvalgte premiumhistorier og 9000+ magasiner og aviser.
Allerede abonnent? Logg på
Mobikwik IPO Subscribed Fully In Less Than 90 Mins Of Opening
The initial public offer (IPO) of fintech firm One Mobikwik Systems saw strong participation from investors as the issue was fully subscribed in less than 90 minutes of opening on Wednesday.
Bag it like a boss
These bags are perfect for every occasion, from sangeet to cocktail party
THE CITYSCAPE IN A GLASS
Imagine the sunset and the beautiful winter line created by it and top that with the falling AQI of Delhi and a breathtaking view of the Lutyens.
Paul Mescal to play Paul McCartney in Beatles biopic
PREVIOUSLY there were speculations that filmmaker Ridley Scott and actor Paul Mescal are set to reteam for the upcoming thriller The Dog Stars following their successful collaboration on the recently-released Gladiator 2.
IN STEP WITH THE SACRED
Kuchipudi dancer Amrita Lahiri, and musician Chandana Bala Kalyan, students of Delhi guru Leela Samson, bring their production, 'Mandala', to the city
Shami far from best as Bengal lose to Baroda
PACER Mohammed Shami rarely operated at his best and it had a cascading effect on Bengal as they went down by 41 runs against Baroda in the quarterfinals of the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy here on Wednesday.
Mandhana ton in vain as Australia win ODI series 3-0
SMRITI MANDHANA'S record-breaking century and Arundhati Reddy's career-best figures went in vain as India lost the final ODI against Australia at the WACA ground as hosts took the series 3-0 adding six points to their tally in the ICC women's ODI championship.
Salah keeps Liverpool perfect, Real win
MOHAMED SALAH helped maintain Liverpool's perfect record in the Champions League on Tuesday while holders Real Madrid bounced back from their defeat at Anfield to topple in-form Italians Atalanta.
ISL: CFC down Hyderabad to end 4-match winless run
IRFAN YADWAD'S early goal proved to be the difference-maker as Chennaiyin FC recorded a much-needed victory over Hyderabad FC in the Indian Super League at the Jawaharlal Nehru Indoor Stadium here, on Wednesday.
Saudi Arabia to host 2034 FIFA WC
SAUDI ARABIA has been officially confirmed by FIFA as host of the 2034 World Cup in men's football, giving the oil-rich kingdom its biggest prize yet for massive spending on global sports driven by Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman.