|
Lucknow,
Mar
8:
Hours
after
the
Samajwadi
Party
chief
Akhilesh
Yadav
claimed
that
a
truck
carrying
EVMs
was
“intercepted”
in
Varanasi,
the
Election
Commission
clarified
that
these
EVMs
were
“marked
for
training”
of
officials
who
will
be
on
duty
during
the
counting
of
votes
and
were
not
used
in
elections.
In
a
statement
issued
here
late
on
Tuesday
night,
the
office
of
the
Chief
Electoral
Officer
of
UP
said
that
a
“‘rumour
was
spread
by
people
of
some
political
party
by
stopping
the
vehicle
and
alleging
that
these
EVMs
were
used
in
elections”.
“According
to
the
report
sent
by
the
District
Election
Officer
(of
Varanasi),
it
was
found
during
the
investigation
that
these
EVMs
were
marked
for
training.
“To
train
the
officials
involved
in
counting
duty,
training
has
been
organised
for
March
9
(Wednesday),”
it
said.
The
statement
said
the
second
training
of
the
employees
engaged
in
counting
duty
is
on
Wednesday
and
“these
machines
are
always
used
in
training
for
hands-on
training”.
“These
EVMs
were
being
taken
for
training
today,
and
rumour
was
spread
by
people
of
some
political
party
by
stopping
the
vehicle,
and
alleging
that
these
EVMs
were
used
in
elections,”
the
statement
said.
The
UP
CEO
office
also
said
that
all
the
EVMs
used
for
voting
are
sealed
inside
the
strongroom
and
secured
in
a
three-tier
security
cordon
of
the
central
paramilitary
forces.
These
machines
are
completely
isolated
and
secure
and
are
continuously
monitored
by
CCTVs
throughout
the
day
(24×7).
The
District
Election
Officer
of
Varanasi
has
informed
the
representatives
of
various
political
parties
regarding
this,
the
statement
said.
Samajwadi
Party
chief
Akhilesh
Yadav
earlier
accused
the
ruling
BJP
of
trying
to
“steal”
votes,
saying
that
a
truck
carrying
EVMs
was
“intercepted”
in
Varanasi
while
two
others
got
away.
Counting
of
votes
will
take
place
on
March
10.
PTI
For Quick Alerts Subscribe Now For Quick Alerts ALLOW NOTIFICATIONS | Updated: Wednesday, March 9, 2022, 1:06 [IST] Lucknow, Mar 8: Hours after the Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav claimed that a truck carrying EVMs was “intercepted” in Varanasi, the Election Commission clarified that these EVMs were “marked for training” of officials who will be on duty during the counting of votes and were not used in elections. In a statement issued here late on Tuesday night, the office of the Chief Electoral Officer of UP said that a “‘rumour was spread by people of some political party by stopping the vehicle and alleging that these EVMs were used in elections”. “According to the report sent by the District Election Officer (of Varanasi), it was found during the investigation that these EVMs were marked for training. “To train the officials involved in counting duty, training has been organised for March 9 (Wednesday),” it said. The statement said the second training of the employees engaged in counting duty is on Wednesday and “these machines are always used in training for hands-on training”. “These EVMs were being taken for training today, and rumour was spread by people of some political party by stopping the vehicle, and alleging that these EVMs were used in elections,” the statement said. The UP CEO office also said that all the EVMs used for voting are sealed inside the strongroom and secured in a three-tier security cordon of the central paramilitary forces. These machines are completely isolated and secure and are continuously monitored by CCTVs throughout the day (24×7). The District Election Officer of Varanasi has informed the representatives of various political parties regarding this, the statement said. Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav earlier accused the ruling BJP of trying to “steal” votes, saying that a truck carrying EVMs was “intercepted” in Varanasi while two others got away. Counting of votes will take place on March 10. PTI