‘While you fail to prove yourself, you say it is the fault of EVM’, the CEC Rajiv Kumar said.
Chief Election Commissioner Rajiv Kumar on Saturday snubbed the Doubting Thomases who question the reliability of EVMs when they lose elections and assured voters that each of the 55 lakh electronic voting machines to be used in the general elections between 19 April and 1 June will undergo three mock polls to check their functioning.
While announcing the seven-phase election schedule for picking the 18th Lok Sabha, Kumar was at his poetic best and hit out at EVM doubters by sharing an Urdu couplet he had penned on how the machines would have themselves responded to such allegations. “Adhooree hasaraton ka iljaam har baar ham par lagana theek nahin, vafa khud se nahin hoti, khata EVM ki kahate ho (It is not right to blame us every time for unfulfilled desires. While you fail to prove yourself, you say it is the fault of EVM).”
Saying that EVMs are “100% safe”, the CEC said the so-called “EVM experts” should go through a book published by the election body carrying FAQs and detailed court findings in 40 cases wherein the EVMs functioning and impartiality were upheld. “People always have complaints about EVMs. Sometimes they say, it can’t be rigged and sometimes they say the election results are wrong,” he added.
Cautioning voters and media against fake news, the CEC said people should verify facts before believing them or spreading them. “We have put certain measures in place to ensure misinformation is nipped in the bud. We’re proactive in debunking fake news. Originators of fake news to be dealt with severely as per extant laws.”
“Verify before you amplify is the mantra to combat fake news. Let’s rely on authoritative sources to ensure accurate information prevails. Stay vigilant and help us maintain the integrity of the electoral process,” he added. Kumar shared another Urdu couplet advising voters to not forward fake news and unverified information.
“Jhuth ke bazaar mein raunak to bahut hai, Goya bulbule jaisi turant hi fat jati hai./Pakad bhi loge to kya hasil hoga siwaye dhokhe ke, (There is a lot of excitement in the market of lies, it seems as if a bubble bursts instantly. Even if caught, what will you gain except deception)?”, he said.
In a message to political parties to maintain decency and avoid using foul language or hate speeches against each other, Kumar shared a few lines of poet Bashir Badr, “Dushmani jam kar karo lekin ye gunjaish rahe ke jab kabhi hum dost ho jaye to sharminda na ho (Even in a rivalry, there should be a scope to become friends again).”
“Please do not try to cross the red line during election campaigning. This is a digital word. If you say something, it will stay on record for hundreds of years. Please avoid creating digital memories of bad words. Please be civilised during the elections,” Kumar said.