Veerappa Moily defends EVMs, says Congress' decision to oppose it is defeatist

Former Union minister and senior leader of the Congress Veerappa Moily has slammed his party for jumping on the bandwagon to oppose EVMs. Moily, under whose law ministership the EVMs were introduced, said that the EVMs were beyond doubt. He also said that the party's decision to criticise electronic voting machines was defeatist.

16 opposition parties in total have petitioned the election commission raising concerns over tampering with electronic voting machines. Moily's statement comes a day after Congress joined the group of parties. Moily condemned Congress' decision claiming that it had come under the "populist sway of regional outfits."

Moily is also quoted as saying that the party did not consult anyone before deciding to join the group of political parties opposing the EVM. In a statement to a newspaper, Moily said, "I am a former law minister. During my period, EVMs were introduced. And complaints also came. We got them verified. Then you know, you should not forget the history. Just because you think there is a popular wave against EVMs, we will also catch up with that."

Moily reiterated that EVMs were tested time and again even during the UPA regime and said that to criticise EVMs after poll defeat was nothing but a defeatist mindset. While he maintained that EVMs are safe, he added that local mistakes are reported by there were systems to address the same immediately. He also appealed to the Congress to not favour populism just like in the case of EVMs.

OneIndia News