New Delhi, March 25 : on Law and Justice Minister Kiren Rijiju on Friday said the government is consulting the Election Commission on how voting can be enabled for Indian citizens staying abroad, and added prospects of having secured online voting is also being discussed. Replying to supplementary questions in the Lok Sabha, the minister said this would be done only after ensuring that it was safe and secure. The Minister was also asked by Congress MP Manish Tewari if the ‘source code’ of Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs) are with the EC or manufacturers of the EVMs, to which the Minister replied that questions should not be raised on the EVMs. Replying to a question by another Congress lawmaker, K Muraleedharan, on whether the government was considering creating mechanism for overseas Indians to vote, Rijiju said: “This is a very positive suggestion. I have already told the EC also. We will make provisions and seek suggestions on how we can allow our people staying outside an opport ty to vote.” “We are also thinking about how online voting system can be encouraged. But before making any declaration we have to ensure safety, transparency to protect it from any malpractice,” he said. Tewari asked the Minister: “Does the source code of EVMs vest in the EC or does it vest in the companies that are manufacturing the EVMs. I want a specific answer to that. “If you are not ready, you can send it in writing.” Rijiju said once the Election Commission gets an EVM, it is under the EC, to which Tewari sought more specifics. “Questions should not be raised on the EVMs and I do not want to make any inferences,” he said. Speaker Om Birla intervened and said the way the poll panel held polls in India and the systems created here were “unparalleled” in the world. Rijiju also said the India election system has been recognized as one of the best in the world. Tewari accused the Minister of dodging the question. The Speaker then moved on to the next question. AO ING