Expressing the desire to provide electoral assistance to Egypt, Chief Election Commissioner S Y Quraishi has said India will provide Electronic Voting Machines, EVMs to the North African nation, which is gearing up for a democratic process after the ouster of Hosni Mubarak's regime. Talking to reporters after a meeting with Egyptian Minister of Justice and Communication as well as with two counsellors, Mr. Quraishi, said India is ready to offer all its experience to the budding democracy in Egypt. Accompanied by a five-member team, the Chief Election Commissioner, is on a five-day visit to Egypt to apprise top officials in the country about India's electoral system and the usage of EVMs. Mr. Quraishi called the Electronic Voting Machine as the wonder machine of democracy and said it had revolutionised elections in India. Egypt's military rulers had last month announced an interim constitution and said, presidential elections would be held by November after Mubarak was ousted in a popular uprising in January. He said that India does not support international monitoring of elections and hence would not participate in monitoring elections in Egypt. The polls may be held in November. It will be the second presidential election in Egypt's history, following the 2005 election and presidential confirmation referendum in 1999, 1993, and earlier.
News On AIR | April 22, 2011 11:48 AM
CEC in Egypt to provide electoral assistance