Law minister charges Opposition of double standards on EVMs

Law Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad Wednesday accused Opposition of adopting double standards on the issue of EVMs, saying leaders from their parties had become chief ministers and Prime Ministers through the same voting process.

"If people of this country elect Narendra Modi, then EVM is faulty. What is this logic?" he asked the opposition members, while replying to the debate on electoral reforms.

"This hypocracy and double standards impinge upon the polity of the country," Prasad added.

He also pitched for one nation one poll and urged the Opposition to consider the proposal with an open mind.

The minister said the government will write to the Election Commission to have a single voter list for assembly, panchayat and general elections in the country.

Prasad said that the government has taken various measures to improve the electoral funding system and that it was ready to consider any other suggestions.

Replying to a short duration debate on electoral reforms, Prasad countered opposition charges related to misuse of media, social media and electoral bonds during the recently concluded general elections.

"Time has come for one nation one poll. We should consider this proposal with an open mind," he said, and hoped that some conclusion could be achieved after discussion.

On aspersions related to EVMs and demand for returning to ballot papers, the minister said that post 1999, as many as 4 general elections and 122 assembly elections have been held using EVMs.

He said Manmohan Singh became the prime minister twice based on elections held with EVMs. Similarly, many oppostion leaders like Akhilesh Yadav, Mayawati and Mamta Banerjee became CMS under EVMs.

The minister said the Congress recently won three assembly polls in Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan and Chhattisgarh.

He asserted not a single complaint has been received regarding vote being cast to a particular candidate through the EVM and it getting transferred to some other candidate.

On opposition charge of crediting itself with achievements of defence forces during election campaign, the minister said " Why national security should not become a plank for election discourse?"
Regarding allegations of managing media and social media, Prasad said: "Stop insulting the voters of this country and try to acknowledge your defeat."