'We All Remember Those Times When Ballot Papers Were Snatched And Looted': President Murmu Defends EVMs In Parliament Address

President Droupadi Murmu has today (27 June) defended the Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs) during her address to the joint session of Parliament.

She further labelled the "misinformation campaign" against them as unfortunate.

"The EVM has passed every test, from the Supreme Court to the people's court, over the last few decades," she said.

The President was referring to the Supreme Court's 26 April judgment which dismissed the demand to revert to the old paper ballot system and upheld the complete cross-verification of votes cast using EVMs with a Voter Verifiable Paper Audit Trail (VVPAT).

In her hour-long inaugural address to the 18th Lok Sabha, she also recalled the era of ballot papers, used in Indian elections until the 1990s.

"We all remember those times when ballot papers were snatched and looted," President Murmu remarked.

Regarding the recent high voter turnout in Jammu and Kashmir during the Lok Sabha elections, President Murmu congratulated the people of the union territory.

"A very heartening aspect of this election emerged from Jammu and Kashmir. The Kashmir Valley broke all records of voter turnout of many decades," she said.

She further added, "In the last four decades, we had witnessed low voter turnout amidst shutdowns and strikes in Kashmir. Enemies of India continued to spread false propaganda at global forums, projecting it as an opinion of Jammu and Kashmir. But this time the Kashmir Valley has given a befitting reply to every such element within the country and outside."

According to the Election Commission, Jammu and Kashmir recorded the highest voter turnout in a Lok Sabha poll in the last 35 years, with a combined voter turnout of 58.46 per cent.

"I also express my gratitude to the Election Commission of India on behalf of crores of Indians today. This was the largest election in the world. About 64 crore voters performed their duty with enthusiasm and zeal," President Murmu said.

Earlier this month, Narendra Modi took the oath as Prime Minister for a record third term, matching the record of three wins set by India's first Prime Minister, Jawaharlal Nehru.

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