AAP-leader claims BJP is hacking EVMs by sharing misleading video
What's the story
What do you do if you think you are losing elections? If you are a member of the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP), you share a video of an actor masquerading as a journalist to claim BJP is hacking EVMs.
AAP leader Savita Anand did the same by tweeting a video of a "foreign news anchor" to question Election Commission.
Soon, her lie was busted.
What happened
Context: After exit polls, Opposition leaders cried conspiracy
If you have no idea about what is the entire furor over EVMs, allow us to explain. Several Opposition parties, including AAP, have been claiming that BJP is rigging polls by hacking EVMs.
The allegations surfaced after Sunday's exit polls gave a clear majority to BJP-led NDA.
Most pollsters claimed NDA will win between 282 to 365 seats on May 23.
VIdeo
Savita shared a video of 'foreign journalist' speaking about EVMs
While allegations didn't stop, Savita took them a step further. She tweeted a video claiming "foreign media" was speaking about EVM hacking.
The anchor of TNN "news channel" explained how BJP is planning to win elections, the states where EVM rigging is taking place etc.
The 2:15 minutes video was widely shared on social media.
Twitter Post
You can watch the video here
अंतर्राष्ट्रीय मीडिया मे खुलासा - मोदी ने हारा हुआ चुनाव जीतने के लिए 200 लोकसभा सीटो पर ईवीएम चेंज करवा दी है! अगर ये सच है, तो सड़कों पर उतरने के लिए तैयार रहें। बड़ा आंदोलन होगा, तानाशाही के खिलाफ। pic.twitter.com/aX1kEuhqiC
— Savita Anand (@savita_aap) May 20, 2019
Reality
The journalist is actually an actor
Soon, Twitter user Arun Pudur busted Savita's claims. He tweeted that the woman, who was passed off as a journalist, is actually a Romanian model. She can be hired as a freelancer from Fiverr.
Pudur tweeted, "So you hired a $5 actor from @fiverr and made her do a video?"
Notably, Savita hasn't said anything about Pudur's tweet.
Twitter Post
The actor also has a dummy company in UK: Pudur
So you hired a $5 actor from @fiverr and made her do a video?
— Arun Pudur (@arunpudur) May 20, 2019
She is Romanian and has a dummy company in UK 😅😅👇👇 pic.twitter.com/jhN7j5t8QZ
Transport
Separately, videos showed EVMs were being transported without security
On a related note, several video clips emerged on social media, purportedly from Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Haryana, which showed EVMs being transported in absence of security.
In Chandauli Parliamentary seat, supporters of Samajwadi Party shot a video of EVMs being taken to a counting center without surveillance.
Speaking on the incident, officials said that EVMs reached the counting center late because of "logistics" problems.
Twitter Post
Here is the video of the incident
Without any comment, an EVM video from Chandauli, UP.
— Ravi Nair (@t_d_h_nair) May 20, 2019
pic.twitter.com/Gmwj638mdo
Details
Meanwhile, RJD claimed it 'seized' EVMs
Similarly, BSP candidate from Ghazipur Afzal Ansari held a sit-in protest outside a storage room claiming that EVMs are being tampered with.
Police and district officials tried to placate Ansari but he didn't listen.
In Bihar, RJD tweeted photos claiming that a truckload of EVMs was "seized" by party workers in Maharajganj Lok Sabha area.
RJD claimed the machines were moving without security.
Twitter Post
What is the administration doing?: RJD
अभी-अभी बिहार के सारण और महाराजगंज लोकसभा क्षेत्र स्ट्रोंग रूम के आस-पास मँडरा रही EVM से भरी एक गाड़ी जो शायद अंदर घुसने के फ़िराक़ में थी उसे राजद-कांग्रेस के कार्यकर्ताओं ने पकड़ा। साथ मे सदर BDO भी थे जिनके पास कोई जबाब नही है। सवाल उठना लाजिमी है? छपरा प्रशासन का कैसा खेल?? pic.twitter.com/K1dZCsZNAG
— Rashtriya Janata Dal (@RJDforIndia) May 20, 2019
Reaction
Facing heat, EC called claims 'baseless'
As Opposition parties slammed Election Commission for favoring BJP, the watchdog rubbished all claims.
Reacting on the videos, Chief Electoral Officer of Uttar Pradesh tweeted, "Polled EVMs are safe in sealed strong rooms under security, CCTV coverage, and surveillance of candidates. There is no possibility of changing EVMs. Don't panic and keep faith."
A high-ranking official in Ghazipur also called the apprehensions "baseless".