Tags: Chandigarh

Chandigarh, Aug 4 Punjab's Qila Raipur MLAJassi Khangura today questioned the moral authority of theShiromani Akali Dal (SAD) President Sukhbir Badal in disputingthe efficacy of the Electronic Voting Machines ("EVM").

He said, "Sukhbir's criticism of EVMs renders the 2007Punjab assembly elections null and void in which case thisgovernment has no moral authority to continue".

"He is simply making a case for a return to ballotpapers as he feels his thugs and goons can better manipulatethe paper process.", he said here.

Khangura quipped that it is remarkable thatafter many years of hostilities former chief ministerAmarinder Singh and former deputy chief minister Sukhbir Badalhave finally agreed on something as both have raised concernson the same EVM issue, before adding "officially the CongressParty support EVMs."

Khangura said, by blindly supporting BJP Leader L KAdvani, who has expressed suspicion that EVMs can be tamperedwith, Sukhbir has fallen into his usual trap of leapingbefore thinking.

He said "Sukhbir has simply not researched the EVMissue. The correct thing to do is to avoid conjecture and tosubmit evidence."

The MLA said that "nothing is infallible but ratherthan speculate about sabotage and manipulation it is better toask the Election Commission of India (ECI) for a thoroughreview of the technology on which the EVMs operate.

"Why not make the machines available to third partytechnology companies and research institutes for scrutiny,? hesaid..

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