NEW DELHI: Aam Aadmi Party legislator Saurabh Bhardwaj is giving a live demo in the Delhi Assembly on “how Electronic Voting Machines or EVMs can be rigged.” The former minister began his show by explaining how different parts of an EVM work and then conducted a mock poll on a voting machine he had carried to the assembly. The AAP test is being conducted on a machine “similar” to an EVM and not an original EVM, he clarified.
“There are secret codes that can be used to decide on the day of voting which candidate can win,” alleged Mr Bhardwaj who introduced himself as a former computer science engineer.
Soon after assembly proceedings began, the BJP’s Vijender Gupta was thrown out of the house for creating a ruckus; the Speaker called in marshals to evict Mr Gupta, one of four BJP legislators in the house.
AAP, which dominates the 70-member assembly, fielded its Alka Lamba to bring up EVMs. The party alleges voting machines have been manipulated to help the BJP post massive wins in the Uttar Pradesh assembly polls and Delhi civic elections recently, which saw AAP decimated just two years after it swept assembly elections.
The party invited leaders of other parties like the Left, Trinamool Congress and Janata Dal United to watch its demonstration and they are seated in the visitors’ gallery.
Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal is in the House sitting alongside his deputy Manish Sisodia. Sacked Delhi minister Kapil Mishra, who has accused Mr Kejriwal of corruption is also in the assembly.
Mr Mishra has alleged that he saw Mr Kejriwal take Rs. 2 crore from another minister, Satyendar Jain, at his home last Friday and that “Mr Jain has benefited close relatives of Mr Kejriwal in illegal land deals.”
He visited Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) to file complaints against his former boss. Ahead of that he sought Mr Kejriwal’s “blessings,” accusing him of sacking him as minister because he outed corruption.
“Arvind Kejriwal, your heart knows what deal I’m talking about with Satyendar Jain…If I hadn’t written a letter to the Anti Corruption Bureau, you wouldn’t have sacked me,” Mr Mishra said. He also alleged that the Delhi chief minister has “created a web of lies” and will “try to prove your innocence” in the Delhi assembly.
“You will be the judge, jury and executioner and all AAP members will clap for you,” said Mr Mishra, who was suspended from AAP yesterday soon after he dared the party to throw him out.
AAP says Mr Mishra is making “wild and baseless allegations” because he was sacked as minister for non-performance. Satyendar Jain has denied Mr Mishra’s allegations and said he was not even present at the Chief Minister’s residence on the day Mr Mishra alleges he handed over the cash.
AAP has also lashed out at Mr Mishra for naming Mr Kejriwal’s brother-in-law, who died on Monday. “Have some humanity. Not even two hours after the cremation, allegations are being made against the person,” said Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia.
