West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Friday suggested the “possibility” of tampering of electronic voting machines (EVMs) in the recent Assembly elections.
Referring to a video in which BJP MP Subramanian Swamy talks about EVMs. Ms. Banerjee appealed to the Election Commission to convene an all-party meeting to discuss the issue.
“I am not saying anything; but I would like you to see what BJP MP Subramanian Swamy said in an address,” she said at a press conference in Kolkata and played the video in which Mr. Swamy purportedly speaks against EVMs.
“He is saying that EVMs are manufactured in Japan and as you have heard [from Mr Swamy] these are manufactured in Japan but the country refuses to use it,” Ms Banerjee said.
“There are allegations of tampering with EVMs and [there should be] investigation,” she said while talking about Uttar Pradesh elections.
She also criticised the West Bengal leadership of the BJP, alleging that the party chief in the State had “predicted” more probes into the activities of her party, the Trinamool Congress.
It is “unfortunate that BJP State president had predicted that CBI investigation would be ordered,” Ms. Banerjee said
She also announced the formation of a 11-member Clinical Establishment Regulatory Commission, headed by a sitting judge of the Kolkata High Court to look into any allegations against private hospitals.
On Thursday, she said the Governor had given his assent to the West Bengal Clinical Establishments (Registration, Regulation and Transparency) Bill 2017 and a notification would be issued on Friday.
Under the Act, private health facilities could be fined up to ₹10 lakh for poor service or functioning without a licence. Private hospitals could be fined up to ₹5 lakh for tampering with documents. All health facilities are bound to give treatment to accident and acid attack victims and rape survivors.
