Elon Musk’s comments about EVMs sparked a contentious discussion; former Union minister Rajeev Chandrasekhar described them as a “sweeping generalization” devoid of supporting evidence. Rahul Gandhi, a Congress MP, entered the debate and supported Musk as well.
In Short
- EVM Tampering Claims: Opposition alleges BJP tampered with EVMs.
- Rajeev Kumar’s Assurance: Chief Election Commissioner claims EVMs are 100% safe.
- Elon Musk’s Comments: Musk suggests EVMs can be hacked.
- Rahul Gandhi’s Support: Gandhi backs Musk, calls EVMs “black boxes.”
In response to billionaire tech tycoon Elon Musk’s remarks against electronic voting machines (EVMs), former Union minister Rajeev Chandrasekhar has fought back, calling the remarks a “huge sweeping generalisation” with no evidence.
Elon Musk expressed his concerns about electronic voting machines in a post on X, arguing that they need to be banned because of the possibility—however remote—that they could be compromised by AI or humans.
Musk’s argument was refuted by Rajeev Chandrasekhar, the former Minister of State for the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology in the Modi Cabinet 2.0. He said that Musk’s theory might be applicable in the US and other countries where “Internet-connected voting machines” are constructed using standard computer platforms.
But according to Chandrasekhar, this isn’t the situation in India, where EVMs are made to order, safe, and separated from the media and networks.
“This is a very broad generalization that suggests nobody can create safe digital hardware. False. Elon Musk’s opinion might be relevant to the US and other regions, where voting machines with internet connectivity are constructed using standard computing platforms. However, Indian EVMs are made to order, safe, and disconnected from all networks and media; they lack Bluetooth, WiFi, and the Internet. i.e., there’s no opening. “Controllers that are factory programmed and cannot be reprogrammed,” tweeted Chandrasekhar.
The politician who was formerly an entrepreneur also promised to show the SpaceX CEO how reliable EVMs made in India are in a tutorial.
“It is possible to design and construct electronic voting machines exactly like India has. Elon, we’d be delighted to do a tutorial,” he remarked.
In response, Musk snarkily said, “Anything can be hacked.”
Rahul Gandhi, a Congress MP, joined the debate and supported Musk’s position. Gandhi’s son, who has often questioned the assertion that EVMs are untouchable, called them a “black box.”
Gandhi wrote in a post on X that “EVMs are a ‘black box,’ and nobody is allowed to study them in India. There are legitimate worries expressed regarding our electoral process’s transparency. When institutions are not held accountable, democracy eventually turns into a farce that is vulnerable to fraud.”
Amit Malviya, the head of the BJP’s IT Cell, challenged Tesla CEO Elon Musk and made fun of Rahul Gandhi amid the growing debate.
Elon Musk or anyone else who believes they can hack the electronic voting machine can get in touch with the Indian Election Commission and try their luck. However, why is Rahul Gandhi griping to Musk about democracy in India? What is Musk capable of? Or is it ingrained in Congress to denigrate India and wail in front of the world? In the most recent election, the Indian people rejected this dynast for the third time in a row. However, he still doesn’t get it,” Malviya tweeted.
The opposition had claimed that the ruling BJP might have tampered with electronic voting machines during the just-completed protracted Lok Sabha election in order to sway the results in their favor. Rajeev Kumar, the Chief Election Commissioner, responded by promising that EVMs are “100% safe”.
Conclusion
The debate over EVM tampering and their safety continues to polarize opinions in India. While Chief Election Commissioner Rajeev Kumar assures their security, voices like Elon Musk and Rahul Gandhi raise concerns. This ongoing discussion highlights the importance of transparency and trust in the electoral process, crucial for the health of democracy.
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