Something wrong with EVMs\, need to study them: Pitroda

Something wrong with EVMs, need to study them: Pitroda

Press Trust of India  |  Ahmedabad 

Technocrat-turned-politician said Thursday that he feels there is something wrong with Machines (EVMs).

"As an engineer, as a technical expert, I am not satisfied with EVM," Pitroda said at a press conference here.

"But I have not been able to pinpoint it because I do not have an EVM. If someone gives me an EVM to study for a year, then I can say something," he said.

"You will have to understand the design, the software ....But one thing is for sure, there is something wrong with it. We do not know what is wrong with it," said Pitroda, who had served as to former

Opposition parties recently demanded counting of at least 50 per cent of slips during the Lok Sabha elections, claiming that EVM's reliability was doubtful.

On the feasibility of the Nyay scheme announced by the in its manifesto, he said it was framed after consulting experts from across the world, and makes economic sense.

"Time has come for our country to think about 50 million poorest families. It is our moral responsibility to uplift them," he said, adding that for a three trillion dollars economy, funding the scheme will not be difficult as the country's economy was growing at 8 per cent annually.

"The money will go into economy, will create jobs in rural areas," he said, adding that it will help the economy just as the National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (NREGA) did.

On Narendra Modi's allegation that the neglected and did injustice to Gujarat, Pitroda said nobody could humiliate the state.

"Many chief ministers came and went, but has always done well because Gujaratis do well. And they do well not just in but also in London, ..They do well everywhere. Nobody can humiliate Gujarat," he said.

On Modi's barb that the Congress was "speaking the language of Pakistan" over surgical and air strikes carried out by the Indian forces inside Pakistan, Pitroda said, "Whatever you say, the and (BJP president) Amit Shah tag you as anti-national.

"(That) The Congress party at the right time cut into two pieces (in 1971) should tell you enough," he added.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)

First Published: Thu, April 18 2019. 18:40 IST