Hackathon challenge: AAP demands full access to EVMs

Tribune News Service

New Delhi, May 20

Demanding "full access" to EVMs during the hackathon challenge, the AAP today said its delegation will meet the Election Commission asking it to conduct a “fair hackathon” challenge under camera surveillance as well as physical presence of EC officials.

The delegation will meet the EC within the next two days to understand the “terms and conditions” of the EVM challenge, said a party leader, claiming the challenge doesn't allow hackers to open machine. The AAP wondered if the EC expects parties to hack machines with “mantras”.

Addressing reporters, AAP national spokesperson Sanjay Singh said, “The riders put by the EC for the hackathon means that this is not a fair opportunity to demonstrate that hacking of EVMs is possible. Does the EC believe that people who want to rig elections are going to follow any of their rules and regulations if they want to hack EVMs?

The AAP seeks to know if the EC will allow parties to carry tools to the hackathon and will they be allowed to be opened up completely, including changing the motherboard of the EVM.

Singh said, “If the EC doesn't permit anyone to read the chip, change the motherboard, does it expect parties to chant mantras during the hackathon to tamper EVMs? Will anyone trying to rig elections do so within ‘terms and conditions’ set by the EC?”

The EC today demonstrated that its EVMs are “tamper-proof” in the backdrop of concerns raised over the credibility of EVMs by several opposition parties, especially the AAP and the BSP which claimed that they were “programmed” to allegedly favour the BJP during the recent assembly elections in five states and the civic polls in Delhi.

The AAP had also called a special session of the Delhi Assembly when its MLA Saurabh Bhardwaj demonstrated that EVMs can be manipulated challenging the EC to allow its experts to inspect and hack the EVMs used in recent elections.

The Opposition BJP and its leaders criticised the AAP over the issue saying it should focus on addressing concerns of people rather than indulging in allegations.