IN Solapur : The Suspicious movement of EVMs ,

The VBA plans to lodge complaints against the suspicious incident

By : Jayali Wavhal : 12/8/2019

Credit : Sohan Londhe

Amid heavy flood situation across the western parts of Maharashtra, a Vanchit Bahujan Aghadi (VBA) member has released two videos of EVM machines being suspiciously transported in two trucks, raising eyebrows just ahead of the assembly elections.

Sohan Londhe, a resident of Solapur was attending a VBA party meeting regarding upcoming elections, when he noticed two trucks parked outside the Solapur government rest house. Upon seeing the ‘Election Material Urgent’ label on each of the trucks, he immediately went live on his Facebook page. “I was curious what was this urgent material that needed to be transported right away. Upon inquiring here, it turns out that there are EVM machines inside. While the state struggles with heavy floods, does this seem like an attempt by BJP to tamper with the EVMs? This matter requires further investigation”, he said in his Facebook live video.

Londhe has informed that the machines in the truck were being guarded by two policemen who refused to give out any information for they feared losing their jobs. “There were two policemen guarding the boxes and when I asked them about the contents of the big plastic boxes in the trucks, they hinted the “urgent material” were in fact EVM machines. Unfortunately, they could not speak on camera. Even the police force is being used as puppets right now, instilling fear in them of getting suspended”, he said.

While the police were not able to speak on camera, Londhe did manage to film his conversation with the truck driver on his mobile phone. When Londhe questions Santram Yadav, the truck driver, about EVM machines being the “urgent material”, Yadav repeatedly says he has only been informed that there are plastic boxes inside and has no idea about the actual contents. “There are around 40 plastic boxes in my truck, I don’t know about the second truck. I also don’t know what is inside these boxes. We left from Bangalore to Hyderabad, and are now heading towards Jalgaon”, the driver replied.

However, Sohan Londhe claims that prior to speaking on the video, the driver had admitted to transporting EVMs in the large plastic boxes.  Additionally, number plates of both the trucks said that they belonged from Thane, but Londhe could not find out who had hired these trucks.

Earlier in May, political leaders from different parts of India had voiced their suspicions of EVMs being replaced to manipulate the Lok Sabha election results. Deputy Chief Minister of Delhi Manish Sisodia had tweeted screenshots of a news channel footage that claimed EVMs were being replaced at every polling booth while the Election Commission and media chose to ignore it. Similar such incidents were reported in various cities of Haryana, Uttar Pradesh, West Bengal, Punjab, Bihar and Maharashtra.

Speaking about this turn of events, former Chief Minister of Maharashtra, Prithviraj Chavan has said that while his party continues to search for strong evidences that prove EVMs are being tampered or hacked, this video isn’t one of them. He stated that, “The state is allowed to transport and exchange EVMs ahead of elections for various reasons. It is a very normal and common activity. This video isn’t a strong proof to claim EVMs are being tampered with and until there is no hardcore evidence, I cannot comment any further on this”.

According to a Maharashtra Election Commission official, EVMs are moved regularly from one city to another, especially ahead of elections to conduct mock polls. He further stated that the EVMS were likely being sent to Belgaum from Kolhapur, a normal route for this customary process. “If the usual route is Belgaum to Kolhapur, what was the truck doing in Solapur before heading to Jalgaon? It doesn’t add up. We also fail to understand why did the Election Commission could not wait until the flood situation was under control. Conducting mock polls or transporting EVMs for security checks is surely not important than the floods currently”, said another VBA member Pavan Mhaske.

Albeit Sujaat Ambedkar has seen the video and personally talked with Londhe, he has cited party protocols and refrained from commenting on the issue before the Vanchit Bahujan Aghadi takes an official stand. However, sometime after midnight yesterday, VBA members had stopped the truck from leaving Solapur. After having a conversation with Prakash Ambedkar today, the party members lodged a police complaint and demanded a search investigation for both the trucks in the presence of the collector and other officials. “Though we demanded the search investigation, they did not do anything as Pune’s Collector officer sent a letter to police officials. The letter stated that the EVMs were being transported as a part of routine check and such actions will create obstacles for the government while it performs its duties”, informed Sohan Londhe.

An election official has also talked with one of the members stating the EVMs were being moved from Bangalore after they were sent to BEL company for maintenance check. “EVMs that were defective during the FLC (first level checking) were also transferred to Bangalore as a part of the customary process. However, floods delayed the process by 8 days. Such skepticism will erode the credibility of the election process”, the election official said further. 

VBA members have however questioned the timing of the EVM transportation and the heavy floods, besides the truck halting at Solapur prior to heading Jalgaon, which is nowhere on the regular route between Bangalore to Kolhapur.

Baldev Harpal Singh, Chief Election Officer for upcoming Vidhan Sabha elections in Maharashtra has also dismissed this incident as a mere security process that all EVMs undergo. Speaking about the process of transporting EVMs, he said, “This is just an inter-state transportation as machines are procured from various places under escort. And about the change in route, about how the machines landed in Solapur if they were on a Bangalore-Kolhapur route – these details are finalised by the state officials and the security officials escorting the machines. No one needs to read too much into it”. He further added that EVMs cannot be replaced or tampered with and the public should trust the operations conducted by election officials.

Will special status of NE states also be removed: Prakash Ambedkar

Will special status of NE states also be removed: Prakash Ambedkar
Prakash Ambedkar said despite the special status, several North-East states were facing insurgency.

Prakash Ambedkar said the decision to scrap Article 370 was taken hurriedly. (Photo: Twitter)

Hitting out at the Modi government for "hurriedly" scrapping Article 370 in Jammu and Kashmir, Dalit leader Prakash Ambedkar on Friday asked whether the special status of the North East states will also be removed. He said despite the special status, several North-East states were facing insurgency.

"The decision to scrap Article 370 was taken hurriedly. Before deciding on the move, the people of Kashmir were not taken into confidence," Ambedkar said while addressing a press conference in Nagpur.

"The fundamental rights of the people are the same as per Article 14 of the Constitution. Hence, will the rule implemented in Kashmir be applicable to the states that have special status?" asked the Vanchit Bahujan Aghadi (VBA) leader.

"Will the special status of states like Arunachal Pradesh, Meghalaya, Assam and Mizoram stay intact after the Centre's move of scrapping Article 370 in Jammu & Kashmir?" he asked.

"Home Minister Amit Shah made a statement that Aksai Chin is part of India. I see a danger in the statement as till now various insurgent groups in the North East were fighting individually, but now we have given China an issue to bring them together," said Ambedkar.

He said reservation provided to backward classes is also a kind of special status.

"The reserved category also has a special status, but the government is trying to remove that status," he said.

The former MP appealed to the government to provide details about the dams being built by China on the Brahmaputra in Tibet.

"The Brahmaputra river originates in Tibet and comes to India. I appeal to Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Amit Shah to tell the nation about how many dams China is constructing on the Tibet side," he said.

"If that water is blocked, then the Brahmaputra water, which is perennial now will it remain perennial? Will the seven sisters of North East remain with India if that water does not remain perennial? As per our information, those dams are nearing completion in next 3 to 4 years," he said.

Replying to a query, he said, "Dr Babasaheb Ambedkar was not in favour of Article 370 when the Constitution was made in 1950. I feel he was right at that time because the people of Kashmir were attached to India through their heart and mind then."

"But today's situation is different as the people of Kashmir moved away from us psychologically. Babasaheb wanted to implement the Constitution in Kashmir and the people of Kashmir were also ready to accept it. But, now it is not appropriate as the people of Kashmir are no more attached to us through their mind and heart," Ambedkar said.

Also Read :

Allowing the State to Designate Someone as a ‘Terrorist’ Without Trial is Dangerous

A tribute to BR Ambedkar !

A tribute to BR Ambedkar

Wednesday, 07 August 2019 |GURU PRAKASH

The anomalies created due to Article 370 and 35A were erroneous at many levels. The Government’s decision will usher a remarkable transformation in the lives of Dalit, tribal and other backward communities

One of the most significant points that is lost in the debate over the abrogation of Article 370 of the Constitution of India is the plight of the subalterns in the State of Jammu & Kashmir. The commentariat has missed the impact of removal of Article 370 on the Dalits, Other Backward Classes (OBCs) and tribal communities in the State. The socially, politically and economically disadvantaged sections were bereft of any Constitutional benefits, which were meant for their welfare and development.

“You wish India should protect your border, it should build road in your areas, it should supply you food grains and Kashmir should get equal status as India. But the Government of India should have limited powers and Indian people should have no rights in Kashmir. To give consent in your proposal, would be a treacherous thing against the interest of India and I, as the Law Minister of India, will never do”, observed BR Ambedkar on the demand of special status to Jammu & Kashmir.

As someone, who dedicated his life for the cause of the Dalits, Babasaheb carefully pre-empted the implications of a distinctive Constitutional status. He never compromised with the national interest and the interests of the community. He was unfortunately overridden by the then rulers, whose only intentions were to seek power at all costs.

By revoking Article 370, the Narendra Modi Government has undone years of oppression and institutional discrimination of the socially marginalised sections like the Scheduled Castes, Scheduled Tribes and OBCs.

Coming together of arch-rivals

It was one of the rare occasions where the Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) solidly stood with the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). Affirmative action policies like preferential treatment to the Dalits, tribal and OBC communities became victims of Article 370, which created a permanent roadblock for Central legislations. It is interesting to note that reservation policies were not fully implemented in the entire State of Jammu & Kashmir due to Article 370.

Many Valmiki Dalits in Jammu are forced to become sweepers because the State legislation does not recognise their community, whose members are conventionally manual scavengers, as State subjects. The members of the community cannot apply for a Scheduled Caste certificate or a Government job, except for the post of a sweeper. They have been protesting against this since a very long time. According to a news report published by News18 in 2010, one of the Ministers publicly admitted that, “The demands of the Valimikis are genuine. They are not outsiders but adopted ones. Due to Article 370, giving State subject to them is difficult. In order to solve their situation, we will form a committee consisting of all party members, who can solve their plight soon,” said the then Jammu & Kashmir Minister for Relief and Rehabilitation, Raman Bhalla.

“Being denied SC certificate puts them at a disadvantage and they cannot even obtain a loan in the State to pull themselves out of backwardness. Without residential rights to property, they have no collateral to mortgage. Even after living in Jammu & Kashmir for 62 years, the Valmikis do not have a right to vote in panchayat, municipality or State Assembly elections”, observed Pallavi Sareen in one of the articles on the plight of Valmikis in Jammu & Kashmir.

This was a gross violation of Constitutional values and spirit. Valmikis in the rest of the country are recognised as SC and are entitled to benefits in State-sponsored education and employment schemes. Can a similar class of citizens be treated differently in the same country? It was a matter of embarrassment as it never caught the attention of intellectuals and activists, who have systematically benefitted from atrocity narrative.

The story does not end here. It is surprising that there is no provision of political representation of STs in the State of Jammu & Kashmir. Whereas the Constitution of India has made special arrangements for their equitable representation at critical decision making positions, the tribal communities were still prohibited to enter the legislative chambers of Jammu & Kashmir. With the bifurcation of Ladakh as a separate Union Territory, tribal communities will now get what was due to them since so many decades.

The anomalies created due to Article 370 and Article 35A were erroneous at many levels. The Modi Government’s decision will usher a remarkable transformation in the lives of Dalit, tribal and other backward communities of Jammu & Kashmir.

(The writer is Adviser, Dalit Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry (DICCI) and Assistant Professor at Patna University)