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Electronic voting machines (EVMs) and paper trail machines are designed and manufactured indigenously by two public sector undertakings (PSUs), the government said in Lok Sabha on Friday. Responding to a question on whether the government has purchased EVMs and EVM technology from foreign countries, Law Minister Kiren Rijiju said according to the Election Commission, EVMs and voter verifiable paper audit trail machines (VVPATs) are designed and manufactured indigenously by Bharat Electronic Limited (BEL), a PSU under the Defence Ministry, and the Electronic Corporation of India Limited (ECIL), another PSU under the Department of Atomic Energy. Paper roll of VVPATs is procured by states and Union Territories from BEL and ECIL, he said in his written reply.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday said the Congress alleging tampering of Electronic Voting Machines is an indication that it has already accepted defeat in the Gujarat Assembly elections. Voting for 89 seats in the first phase of the Gujarat elections took place on Thursday. "The way Congress has started blaming EVMs after yesterday's voting in Kutch, Saurashtra and south Gujarat, it is evident the opposition party has conceded defeat and has accepted that the BJP will win the election. Alleging EVM tampering is an indication the Congress is on its way out," said Modi. He was speaking at an election rally in Patan town of north Gujarat where voting will be held along with remaining 92 seats on December 5. "The Congress knows only two things, abuse Modi ahead of polls to please the voters and then blame EVMs after voting. This proves the Congress has accepted defeat," the prime minister said. He also slammed past Congress governments for 'widening' the rift between the rich a