After EC, opposition leaders meet President on EVM issue

New Delhi, April 12 (IANS) Opposition leaders, including Congress President Sonia Gandhi, on Wednesday met President Pranab Mukherjee on the EVM issue and raised concern over what they dubbed as an "environment of fear and insecurity" in the country.

Congress Vice-President Rahul Gandhi and senior party leaders Ghulam Nabi Azad and Mallikarjun Kharge, and Communist Party of India-Marxist General Secretary Sitaram Yechury were part of the delegation that submitted a memorandum to the President on alleged tampering with the Electronic Voting Machines during recent state polls.

"Through our memorandum, we drew his attention to the recent critical developments which have seriously undermined governance and institutional integrity. The environment of fear and insecurity has been prevailing in the country and voices of dissent are being muzzled," said Azad, Leader of Opposition in the Rajya Sabha.

He said malfunctioning and tampering with EVMs have raised questions about the sanctity of entire electoral process, particularly the recent elections to five state assemblies.

The senior Congress leader said that the leaders of various opposition parties met the Election Commission authorities too on Monday and were assured of all-party meeting on the matter.