Whispers Forum

War in Ukraine has created a never ending scenario in this whole universe where democracy seems to be waning around the world. Civil dialogue is becoming obsolete and redundant. Voices that could make a difference -that could help move us from war to peace, from confrontation to cooperation- are being drowned out by provocative level. State-sponsored misinformation campaigns fly & run unchecked. We must resist these trends. We must encourage open, informed debate, bringing together diverse opinions and expert ideas. And these insights need to be accessible to everyone and everywhere.
Harish Kumar

The Indian soldiers have always given befitting reply to China whenever it tried to intrude into our territory. Along with military strength, PM Narendra Modi is engaged in strengthening India's economy. China's relations with America are not good at this time. American companies can leave China. India has made good infrastructure, has strengthened electricity, water and roads. In a few years investments from China will shift to India and it has already started. If this happens, not only would India's economy be strong, but employment would also increase. PM Modi is focusing on boosting the economy and technology, so we want peace.
Aditya Nigam

The orders of the Central Information Commission have been inconsistent on this issue. All the benches should follow a similar law and the same bench should not deviate from the stand taken earlier. I have seen the complete order of the CIC and regret to note that the CIC has not cared to even hide the PAN number of the wife of the applicant from the order. It is basic knowledge that the PAN No is personal information of a person and still the CIC order holding states personal information of the third party.
Anjana Shrimali

The high and the mighty have fallen from grace, usually on small matters like ego and money. The love flies away and all that is left is bitterness. No matter when people hit the ground, the law made for the poorest of the poor like the RTI Act becomes a tool for their fighting. The law which was to herald an era of transparency and accountability is a means for the battle for small issues to prove a point or to gain an asset. An interesting case to see a very different aspect of the transparency Act in terms of usage. Once in a while, a case like this adds spice to the dry RTI debate.
Sukumar Upadhyaya

In 2004 General Elections- Congress Party won
In 2009 General Elections- Congress Party won
In 2014 General Elections- BJP won
In 2019 General Elections - BJP won
In 2021 Assembly Elections - AAP party won in Punjab
In 2020 Assembly Election in Tamil Nadu - DMK won
In 2020 Kerala Assembly Elections - CPM won
In Telangana Assembly Elections- TRS Party won
I could go on.
So the Election Commission was rigging EVMs for each election?
That is a preposterous statement and wishful thinking casting deep aspersions on the IAS officers who man the EC, starting with Seshan especially.
Devindra Sethi

This round of elections too has a message for Congress. That, its leaders are leaving and joining the BJP. That its vote bank and workers are getting shifted to AAP. That the communist party and its leftist supporters in Congress and its offices are determined to wipe out Congress legacy in this country. That this country or foreign powers will never allow a leftist thought party to rule India at any cost which the Congress should learn fast.
Saboo
CCI a burden on taxpayers
CCI was a burden on the taxpayers and now with the impending merger it will be a super burden.
Ashok Menon

Harish Kumar about EVM is absolutely off the mark and wrong to imagine that EVMs can be programmed at the factory site to favour parties, before the EVM is sealed shows lack of common sense. The greatest administrative action is the random shuffling of the EVMs not only in constituencies, but also at different levels. It is impossible to prejudge EVMs. Only booth capturing can do it, but even that is next to impossible due to technology, the spread of para military forces, the watchful eyes of social media/ news channels, etc. I am quite certain that EVMs are beyond tamper proof and are rock solid in neutrality. But the worrying thing we should bother about is linking of Aadhaar with Voter ID, of Aadhaar with scores of other essentialities, which is not the mandate of Aadhaar. recently the Tamil Nadu government has come up with a no-brainer scheme of linking Aadhaar with electricity connections (otherwise the electric connection is in danger of being cut off to the consumer). As it is with finger prints getting erased due to age, Aadhaar is becoming a question mark of how useful it is. Supreme court has in a judgement clarified that Aadhaar is voluntary and no coercion should be used. But where is the compliance? EVMs are fine, but the rest of the systems are not fine any more.
Srinivasan

I am amused by Harish Kumar's remarks on EVM VVPAT. Why do you (Mr Harish Kumar,) not go to the Election Commission of India and accept the challenge to hack the EVMs being used for elections in India. That challenge is valid till today. We are waiting patiently for someone to prove the Election Commission wrong. Nobody has accepted the open challenge for many years now. In the meantime, many democracies have approached our EC for their assistance to bring their voting systems into the 21st century as we have done for many years now.
Devindra Sethi

I beg to disagree with views expressed by Devinder Sethi regarding impossibility of manipulating EVM meant or used for Indian elections. If the EVM is pre-programmed by the company in favour of ruling dispensation at the time of manufacture itself. I agree EVM is not connected with the internet but still there is still a possibility of hacking through the internet through advanced security software or cloud computing etc. There are many software in operation, even various intelligence agencies both at Centre and state use them very often. 24 to 26 lakh EVMs of 2014 and 2019 elections are still missing and PIL in SC is still in cold storage. One more question he very kindly raised is that when Election Commission invited political parties on demonstration that EVM hacking mock drill, no one turned up, the answer is simple, all political parties on the basics of this manipulation, they did not turn up as they know finally it suits them too to come into power at right opportunity. In any case, democracy in true spirits is a myth as 135 crores never vote or there is no 100% voting courtesy illiteracy of India.
Harish Kumar

I read inputs on EVMs being hacked in WIC regularly. Here is the open challenge given by the Election Commission of India to prove the same in their presence. All failed. Why? EVM VVPAT are not connected to the internet or anything externally or wireless systems. No access is possible. EC reports nil people came forward to accept EC challenge. After Opposition parties win elections in Punjab/ Rajasthan/ or anywhere else doubts disappear! Why? Bogus vested interests? I think this EC input should be widely published by WIC.
Devindra Sethi