Lagatar24 Desk
New Delhi: The Congress Party on Saturday took a dig at Prime Minister Narendra Modi, advising him to consider the stance of his “friend” and former US President Donald Trump on paper ballot voting. Congress General Secretary (Organisation) KC Venugopal urged the PM to address national concerns about electoral integrity, asserting that BJP’s stance on electoral transparency is questionable.
Congress Accuses BJP of Manipulating Electoral System
Venugopal stated, “I am sure even his (Modi’s) best friend would be shocked by the unusual voter increase in Maharashtra or the ‘surgical deletion’ of opposition votes. It is unfortunate that the BJP is pretending to be unaware of how the electoral system can be seriously manipulated. Their reluctance towards transparency only confirms our suspicions about their misconduct.”
He further challenged the BJP’s opposition to electoral transparency, questioning, “Why is the ruling party running away from transparency? Will PM Modi consider Trump’s advice and advocate for the use of paper ballots instead of EVMs in India?”
Trump’s Stand on Paper Ballots
Venugopal’s remarks came after Donald Trump, during a governor’s session, suggested that voting should be conducted using paper ballots instead of electronic voting machines (EVMs). Trump claimed that this would save millions of dollars and ensure election security.
When asked whose advice he considered regarding election systems, Trump pointed to tech billionaire Elon Musk, stating, “Elon knows more about computers than anyone. He believes computers are not meant for voting.”
Trump had previously alleged that voting machines contributed to his defeat in the 2020 US elections, though no evidence has been found to support these claims.
Congress Demands Modi’s Response
Congress has now questioned whether PM Modi will acknowledge Trump’s stance on paper ballots and respond to concerns regarding the fairness of India’s electoral process. Venugopal also expressed surprise at BJP’s apparent disregard for global calls for electoral transparency.
The Congress Party’s demand comes amid ongoing debates over the credibility of EVMs in India, with opposition parties repeatedly raising concerns about electoral manipulation and the need for paper ballot voting.
