Photo : ANIVaranasi: Shortly after Samajwadi Party Akhilesh Yadav alleged EVM fraud, Varanasi district magistrate on Tuesday said that voting machines that were being taken were for “training purpose” only and were not polled ones. Earlier today, the SP chief alleged that the BJP-led state government is “stealing” EVMs and a truck with voting machines was caught in Varanasi. Brushing off Yadav’s charges, Varanasi DM Kaushal Raj Sharma said, “Counting workers’ second training is scheduled for tomorrow at a UP college. 20 EVMs were being taken on a pickup van for hands-on training. It was stopped by some people, and a confusion arose among them if they were polled EVMs.” “Later a huge crowd gathered. All officers came here, they tried to explain to them but due to the crowd now all candidates and chiefs of political parties have been called for their satisfaction that the EVMs that were being taken, were for training purpose only,” he added. Sharma further said that polled EVMs are kept in the strong room and barricading is done for their safety. He also said that EVMs meant for training are kept in other strong rooms. “There is a strong room here. Polled EVMs are kept there, barricading is done, there is no reason to breach the barricading. There are other strong rooms and godowns for other EVMs (meant for training). Both sets of EVMs are not connected to each other, it’s being clarified,” the district magistrate told ANI.Related NewsUP govt stealing EVMs; counting of votes being slowed down where BJP losing: Akhilesh YadavRelated NewsAkhilesh Ji kahenge EVM bewafa hai: BJP’s dig at Akhilesh Yadav’s EVM ‘stolen’ claims Sharma also said that all the local candidates were sent a list of EVMs that were used on polling day. “All candidates have been called and, list of EVMs that were used on polling day were mailed to them. Hard copy is being given today. These 20 EVMs (for training), are separately kept in vehicle. Numbers are being matched and shown to candidates that these are not polled EVMs,” he added. At a press conference in Lucknow, the Samajwadi Party chief accused the ruling BJP of attempting to “steal” votes and alleged that Varanasi DM is transporting EVMs without informing local candidates. “Varanasi DM is transporting EVMs without giving any information to local candidates. EC should look into it. We need to be alert if EVMs are being transported this way. This is theft. We need to save our votes. We may go to court against it but before that, I want to appeal to people to save the democracy,” he said at a press conference.