Opposition Meets President Over “Muzzling of Dissent”, EVM Issue

The delegation submitted a memorandum to the President on alleged tampering with EVMs during the recent state polls.

Congress leaders Sonia Gandhi, Rahul Gandhi and Manmohan Singh address the media outside Parliament House in New Delhi on Wednesday. (Photo: PTI)

Opposition leaders, including Congress President Sonia Gandhi, on Wednesday met President Pranab Mukherjee on the EVM issue and also raised concern over what they dubbed as an "environment of fear and insecurity" in the country and the “muzzling” of “voices of dissent”.

Congress Vice-President Rahul Gandhi and senior party leaders Ghulam Nabi Azad and Mallikarjun Kharge, and CPI (M) General Secretary Sitaram Yechury were part of the delegation that submitted a memorandum to the President on alleged tampering with the Electronic Voting Machines during recent state polls.

Azad, Leader of Opposition in the Rajya Sabha, said:

Through our memorandum, we drew his attention to the recent critical developments which have seriously undermined governance and institutional integrity. The environment of fear and insecurity has been prevailing in the country and voices of dissent are being muzzled. 

He said malfunctioning of and tampering with EVMs have raised questions about the sanctity of the entire electoral process, particularly the recent elections to five state Assemblies.

The senior Congress leader said that leaders of various opposition parties met the Election Commission authorities too on Monday and were assured an all-party meeting on the matter.

(With inputs from IANS.)

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