While replying to the state Congress President Virbhadra Singh’s apprehension for the safety of electronic voting machine (EVM), Chief Minister Prem Kumar Dhumal advised that Virbhadra Singh to approach the Congress-led regime at the Centre for early counting of votes if he was so concerned about the safety of EVM.

In a statement, CM expressed surprise over Virbhadra Singh’s statement. He said the former Chief Minister was only questioning the integrity of a constitutional body like the Election Commission (EC) by making such a statement.

Over the safety of EVM, Dhumal said that elaborate security arrangements had been made by providing close-circuit television cameras and deploying paramilitary forces to guard strongrooms. He added that the state government has provided security cover as per the demand of the EC.

CM remarked that the state Congress chief, apprehending defeat in the hustings, was making such baseless statements. He reminded Virbhadra Singh of putting a question mark on the functioning of the EC in 1998 and 2007 as well.