‘Their dreams have been shattered’: PM Modi hits out at Oppn over SC’s VVPAT order; Congress rebuts

After the Supreme Court denied requests for 100 percent VVPAT verification of votes recorded into electronic voting machines (EVMs), PM Narendra Modi launched an attack on the opposition INDIA alliance on Friday.

Every opposition leader, according to PM Modi, has “sinned” by raising doubt about electronic voting machines. Addressing a rally in Bihar, PM Modi said, “Their (Opposition) dreams have been shattered,” as the second round of the seven-phase Lok Sabha elections began with voting on 88 seats throughout India.

Modi added, “They did not let people exercise their right to vote for decades. Booth capturing was very common… They did not even let the people step out to vote… Now when the poor and honest voters have the strength of EVM, they are trying all they can to get rid of the EVM… Today, the Supreme Court has given a strong verdict saying that the old system of ballot paper voting will not come back.”

The nonprofit Association for Democratic Reforms (ADR) and other parties had submitted a wide range of petitions seeking a complete verification of EVMs through VVPAT slips.

The Supreme Court also questioned the ADR’s credentials in strong words. Justice Dipankar Datta stated, “A trend has been fast developing of certain vested interest groups endeavoring to undermine the achievements and accomplishments of the nation.”

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“There seems to be a concerted effort to discredit, diminish, and weaken the progress of this great nation on every possible frontier. Any such effort, or rather attempt, has to be nipped in the bud,” Justice Datta stated.

Criticising the INDIA bloc, Modi said the Supreme Court’s decision has, “given such a shock to those who had the intention to loot ballot boxes that all their dreams have been shattered.”

He added, “See the power of democracy and constitution of Dr Ambedkar. Today, there are two main streams in politics. One stream is the BJP-led NDA which wants to strengthen the people of India; on the other side is the INDIA alliance which wants to fill their own pockets by seizing the properties of people.”

Modi was reportedly referring to the row over Congress leader Sam Pitroda’s comments on the proposed policy of tax on inheritance passed down from parents to their children.

EVM पर संदेह करने वाले कांग्रेस-आरजेडी और इंडी गठबंधन को सुप्रीम कोर्ट ने आईना दिखाने का काम किया है।

लोकतंत्र जिंदाबाद! pic.twitter.com/tARRqHEevb

— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) April 26, 2024

Congress rebuttal

Congress leader Pawar Khera responded to PM Narendra Modi’s remarks regarding the Voter-Verifiable Paper Audit (VVPAT) Trail by telling the media that the Opposition would like to ask PM Modi if BJP leader LK Advani was incorrect in publishing a book that questioned the accuracy of EVMs.

In 2010, Rao published the book “Democracy At Risk! Can we trust Our Electronic Voting Machines?” At the time, the government of the United Progressive Alliance (UPA) held power.