Former IT Minister Rajiv Chandrashekhar Refutes Elon Musk's Allegations on EVMs

In a recent interview, former Minister of State for Information Technology (IT), Rajiv Chandrashekhar, addressed allegations made by Tesla CEO Elon Musk concerning the reliability of India's Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs).

Musk's Allegations

Musk had expressed skepticism about the security of EVMs, suggesting that they could be susceptible to manipulation. He alluded to potential hacking or programming errors that could compromise the integrity of the voting process.

Chandrashekhar's Response

Chandrashekhar strongly refuted Musk's allegations, asserting that EVMs are robust, secure, and have undergone rigorous testing. He pointed to the fact that EVMs have been used in over 800 million votes in India without any credible reports of tampering.

Technical Safeguards

Chandrashekhar explained the multiple layers of technical safeguards employed in EVMs to prevent unauthorized access or manipulation. These measures include:

Closed-source software: The software running on EVMs is not publicly available, making it difficult to identify any vulnerabilities.
Encryption: All data stored on EVMs is encrypted to protect it from unauthorized access.
Internal memory: EVMs store data internally, eliminating the need for external connections that could be exploited.
Randomization: The order in which candidates appear on EVMs is randomized to prevent any bias or manipulation.

Independent Audits

Chandrashekhar emphasized that EVMs have undergone independent audits by renowned institutions, including the Election Commission of India (ECI) and the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT). These audits have consistently verified the reliability and integrity of EVMs.

Challenge to Prove Allegations

Chandrashekhar challenged Musk to provide concrete evidence to support his allegations. He invited Musk to examine the technical specifications and security measures of EVMs and to engage in a technical discussion on the matter.

Openness to Technical Scrutiny

Chandrashekhar expressed India's willingness to share its expertise and knowledge on EVMs with international experts. He welcomed any independent, non-partisan technical scrutiny to further enhance the confidence in EVM technology.

Importance of Electoral Integrity

Chandrashekhar stressed the paramount importance of maintaining the integrity of the electoral process. He emphasized that EVMs have significantly reduced the potential for electoral fraud and manipulation, which plagued India's elections in the pre-EVM era.

Conclusion

Former IT Minister Rajiv Chandrashekhar unequivocally refuted Elon Musk's allegations regarding the reliability of EVMs in India. He highlighted the robust technical safeguards, independent audits, and challenge to provide evidence. Chandrashekhar reiterated India's commitment to electoral integrity and welcomed any independent technical scrutiny of EVM technology.