Manish Tewari calls for national debate on going back to balloting instead of EVMs

Congress leader Manish Tewari today called for a nationwide debate to go back to paper ballots instead of taking help of the electronic voting machines.

Commenting on the apprehensions expressed by leaders from Jammu and Kashmir not to deploy EVMs serviced from Gujarat in the state, Tewari told ANI, " If parties from Jammu and Kashmir have expressed concern that EVMs serviced in Gujarat should not be deployed in Jammu and Kashmir. They should not only be not deployed in Jammu and Kashmir but not be deployed anywhere in the country."

"Because obviously those apprehensions must be based upon some legitimate reasons and it is high time that the country seriously debated as to whether the time has come to go back to the system of ballots rather than electronic voting machines. Because if you look around the world most countries which were using voting machines have actually gone back to the ballot system," Tewari added.

The Election Commission's move to shift electronic voting machines (EVMs) from Gujarat to Jammu and Kashmir for the Assembly polls there, has raked up a political storm according to reports.

The controversy reportedly started with rumours mills being agog about the EVMs being manufactured in Gujarat were programmed to ensure the BJP's victory during polls.