New Delhi: At a time when the Opposition parties are raising allegations against the conduct of the Election Commission of India, former president Pranab Mukherjee heaped praised on the poll body for conducting the seven-phase election in a successful way.

Speaking at a book launch here on Monday, Mukherjee took potshots at Opposition Parties and advised them not to criticise the ECI. “Only a bad workman quarrels with his tools. A good workman knows how to utilise his tools," he quipped.

He lauded the efforts of election commissioners of India beginning with the role played by Sukumar Sen, the first election commissioner of India. “These Constitutional institutions have been built over many years. They form the strong foundations for our nation and our democracy,” he added.

On allegations of EVM tampering, the former president issued a statement on Tuesday in which he said: ““I am concerned at reports of alleged tampering of voter’s verdict. The safety and security of the EVMs, which are in the custody of ECI, is the responsibility of the commission. There can be no room for speculations that challenge the very basis of a democracy. People’s mandate is sacrosanct and has to be above any iota of reasonable doubt.”

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