On March 8, two days ahead of the counting of votes, Samajwadi Party (SP) chief Akhilesh Yadav said that his party workers intercepted a truck carrying EVMs in Varanasi and alleged that BJP was stealing the EVMs ahead of counting.
In this background, videos of people surrounding a truck carrying EVMs went viral on social media.
Facebook users shared the video with the Hindi caption, ” बनारस में ईवीएम बदलने की बड़ी साजिस पकड़ी गई चोरी बागपत, मुजफ्फरनगर, शामली ,गाजियाबाद पेहरा बढ़ा दो चोर कभी भी काम कर सकते हैं.”
(English Translation: Big conspiracy to change EVM in Banaras, theft caught. Baghpat, Muzaffarnagar, Shamli, Ghaziabad increase the guard. Thieves can work anytime.)
Here’s the link to the above post.
FACT CHECK
NewsMobile fact-checked the post and found that the video is being shared without a proper context.
We noticed that in the videos being circulated, the boxes had yellow and pink stickers with ‘Training/Awareness EVM’ written on them.
We then ran a search and found a document dated 2019 on the official website of the Election Commission where it was mentioned that ‘A sticker of Yellow colour shall be affixed on the CUs and BUs assigned for training and awareness programme. The sticker shall clearly indicate the Name of State/UT and the Number and Name of Assembly Constituency. “Training/Awareness” will be written on the sticker of CUs and BUs assigned for training and awareness.’
We also found a report by Indian Express stating that after Akhilesh Yadav alleged voter fraud in UP, Varanasi DM Kaushal Sharma said, “There were 20 machines that were in a pick-up truck that was stopped by people. There was confusion among the people about whether polling EVMs were being transported. All the candidates, magistrates have been called here to clarify the same. There were 20 machines that were for training. They are not connected with polling EVMs. A hard copy of the machines that were used in polling will be given to the candidates. Also, we have decided that the training will be carried out without the EVMs. Other issues will be probed.”
The same was also clarified by the EC office in a press statement.
However, upon searching further, we found multiple media reports stating that the Election Commission had directed the Chief Electoral Officer of Uttar Pradesh to initiate action against the erring officer in the Varanasi EVM matter.
As per protocols, ‘No EVM, whether or not used in polling, can be shifted without informing candidates‘. Whereas in Varanasi, neither the candidates nor the political parties were informed about the transportation of EVM, resulting in a serious breach in protocols.
ANI, in a report dated March 9, 2022, mentioned that the Election Commission has ordered action against Varanasi Additional District Magistrate NK Singh over the Varanasi EVMs matter. A report by Republic World stated that ‘the Election Commission has suspended Varanasi Additional District Magistrate NK Singh and A returning officer (RO) in Sonbhadra district and an additional election officer (AEO) in Bareilly district have also been pulled out from election duties’.
Hence, from the above information, it is clear that the videos are being shared with misleading context.
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