Opposition sullying nation’s image: Shah on EVM row

As the row over apprehensions of EVM manipulation deepened with some leaders and workers in the Opposition threatening to “pick guns” and “spill blood", BJP chief Amit Shah launched a scathing attack on “desperate parties” for “sullying” the image of the nation.

Dismissing the protests as “frustration over defeat” by the 22 parties, Shah also alluded to the Congress victory in Assembly elections in three Hindi heartland states— Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan and Chhattisgarh— just months ago and said that most of the parties raising questions over the credibility of EVMs have won in elections conducted through EVMs some time or the other.

“If these parties have no trust in EVMs, why did they take over the reins of power after winning poll,” he said asking why questions were not raised when Aam Aadmi Party won 67 of 70 Assembly seats in Delhi in past or when the Congress won four states recently.

“Due to its selfish interest and its mindset of not accepting defeat, the Opposition is sullying the image of the Election Commission and the nation’s democracy. The questions being raised by the EC on the EVMs are mere attempts to create confusion,” he said.

Shah particularly slammed the remarks of “spilling rivers of blood” made by Rashtriya Lok Samata Party chief Upendra Kushwha, an erstwhile NDA ally.

Kushwaha, a former Union minister in the Modi government, quit the ruling alliance and joined the Opposition's grand alliance in Bihar before the Lok Sabha polls.

Hailing the election process through EVMs after the addition of VVPAT as “quite transparent,” Shah reminded the Opposition parties that there is “no place for violent thought and language” in democracy.

He also slammed them for making the “unconstitutional demand” from the EC just two days before the counting day to change its counting protocol and count five random VVPATs first.