Letters: Scrutinise all evidence

Data presented by the BSP and the AAP have not been refuted by the Election Commission

I am glad this paper addresses the crucial matter of electronic voting machine (EVM) tampering in the editorial, “A needless controversy” (March 24).
 
First, it is pertinent to note that only a loser will point to the flaws of an EVM, never a winner. So, to imply that a candidate lost and that’s why he or she is complaining is a logical fallacy; we need to get out of it.
 
Second, the data presented by the Bahujan Samaj Party and the Aam Aadmi Party have not been refuted by the Election Commission (EC). For instance, the EC has refused to disclose reconciliation between voter-verified paper audit trail numbers and electronic count, unless there is a court order. In at least one constituency in Uttar Pradesh the number of votes polled during the Assembly elections was less than the number of votes counted. I have not seen any clarification from the EC in this regard.

 

I am, however, happy that the editorial suggests all measures be taken to restore confidence in the electoral process. Just as Nassim Taleb says that one black swan is enough to prove wrong that all swans are white, we need to look for evidence to see if the EVMs are fine. Accepting at face value whatever functionaries say would be like accepting evidence for the white swan.
 
Krishnaraj V   Bengaluru