Expressing concern over the Electronic Voting Machine (EVM) tampering issue, top leaders from the Opposition, led by Congress leader Ghulam Nabi Azad, party president Sonia Gandhi and vice president Rahul Gandhi on Wednesday met President Pranab Mukherjee and urged him to safeguard democracy and secularism in the nation.
"Recent allegations of EVM tampering have raised questions on electoral process," Congress leader Ghulam Nabi Azad said after meeting President Mukherjee.
“An environment of fear and hatred prevails across the nation. An attempt is being made to destroy of the secular fabric of India. The gau rakshaks, who are acting as extra constitutional elements, are being safeguarded and promoted by members of the ruling dispensation,” he added.
Leaders of various opposition parties including Trinamool Congress, Left parties, Samajwadi Party, BSP, JD-U, DMK and NCP submitted a memorandum to President Mukherjee, mentioning a range of issue such as EMV tampering and Alwar lynching.
Leaders of various opposition parties had earlier met the Election Commission demanding the scrapping of EVMs and instead re-introduce the ballot paper in the polls. The parties have also suggested various alternative measures.