How To Ensure No Tampering Of EVMs: Kapil Sibal's 'To-Do List' For Counting Agents

Rajya Sabha MP and senior advocate Kapil Sibal on Sunday released a chart for counting agents of political parties to ensure there has been no tampering with EVMs.

Addressing a press conference, the former Union Minister said they must check the time on the machines as to when the machine has been opened which should be on June 4. He urged people to match total votes with counted votes.

"In this chart, the CU (control unit) number, BU (ballot unit) number and VVPAT ID will be present...The third column is very important. 4th June 2024 is written in the third column and the time when the machine will be opened is written below. If there is any difference in this time then you will know that the machine has already been opened somewhere...Then, the serial number of control unit will also come here in written format, you have to match that too.

When the total poll vote comes, then look at it carefully so that when there are more votes in the counting, the problem may come again...Keep in mind 2 things, do not press the result button until the verification is done in the above column and if there is a difference between that timing and the timing of the result then there is something wrong. I would like that all political parties and all the candidates who are sitting there should carefully check the first column and get it opened only then..."

"Result button should not be pressed till all the figures are tallied. All political parties and counting agents should follow the procedure," he said. "A lot of people say there is a possibility of these machines being tampered so we are trying to ensure that there has been no tampering," he said.

At the press meet, Sibal attacked Prime Minister Narendra Modi over his veiled 'jail' swipe at RJD leader Tejashwi Yadav and claimed that this was a "confession" that probe agencies were acting at the PM's behest.

"He is sitting in a high office that has dignity. If you reduce the dignity of the PM's post to such a level, look at what is being said on social media. It is an insult to women also," the independent MP said while criticising the PM for his 'mujra' remark.

"What do you want to say? You are insulting women, you are insulting opposition leaders. If you are giving this message from top, the same will happen downwards. So you want to create a culture of hate," the Independent Rajya Sabha MP said, adding that "you cannot build Vksit Bharat like this" "I know the Election Commission will do nothing even though I think this is a violation of the model code of conduct. But nobody would do anything about it because they are hand in glove," the former Union Minister said.

He also recalled that the PM guaranteed Tejashwi Yadav would be sent to jail once the polls concluded.

"How can he send Tejashwi to jail? There is a legal process. This means that law is working on his direction. How does he know? I have been saying probe agencies are working at his behest. This is a confession. To what kind of level, our democratic processes have fallen?" Sibal said.

Speaking at a rally in Karakat on Saturday, Modi had said: "Main aaj Bihar ke logon ko ek aur guarantee de raha hoon. Jinhone Bihar ke garibon ko lutkar naukri ke badle me zamin likhwayi hai, kaan kholkar sun lo, unka bhi jail jaane ka countdown shuru ho chuka hai. Yeh jaise hi helicopter me chakkar marne ka unka samay pura hoga, jail ka raasta tay ho jayega (Today, I am giving one more guarantee to the people of Bihar. Those who looted the poor to get land registered in lieu of jobs should listen carefully, their countdown for going to jail has started. Once he completes his rounds on the helicopter, his road to jail will be finalised)."