I.N.D.I.A. will do away with EVMs when it comes to power: Akhilesh Yadav

New Delhi: During the Motion of Thanks in the Lok Sabha on Tuesday, Samajwadi Party leader Akhilesh Yadav said that he and his party do not trust elections through EVMs. He said if they come to power, elections through EVMs will be scrapped.

“I did not trust EVMs yesterday, don’t trust them today. Even if I won all 80 seats in UP, I will still not trust EVMs. This will always be an issue. We will remain adamant on this, if we win with EVMs we will still remove it,” Yadav said.

Terming these elections as the end of BJP’s 'communal politics', Yadav also urged for a caste census. “We are in favour of caste census, without this there can not be social justice.

"I studied in a Sainik school, my seniors and other officers have told me that the Agniveer scheme will compromise the security of this country. When the I.N.D.I.A. alliance comes to power, the Agniveer scheme will be scrapped,” he said.

Congress’s K C Venugopal stated that the Bhagawad Gita says 'a real Hindu' is one who understands the message of debate, tolerance and human values.

“Mahatma Gandhi and Nathuram Godse, both believed in the Bhagavad Gita, but Mahatma Gandhi learned non-violence, tolerance, respect for human lives and Godse learned violence, murder and intolerance.

The Congress and I.N.D.I.A. bloc believe in Gandhi's Hinduism, not Godse's Hinduism,” the leader said.

BJP leader Nishikant Dubey sought to defend Speaker Om Birla’s comments from Monday when he had said that since he considers PM Modi an elder, he is willing to touch his feet.

“Today a photo of the Army Chief has been published in which he is wearing uniform and touching his mother’s feet, this does not reduce his power.

If Om Birla had touched PM Modi’s feet and saluted him, the power of that chair would not have been reduced. This is Indian culture,” Dubey said.

Congress MP Gaurav Gogoi urged the government to send the NDRF teams to stem the flood in Upper Assam.

“I am present here but my mind and my focus is at the floods in Assam. The situation is very dangerous there. The government should show concern and rush an NDRF team immediately," Gogoi said.