DEMANDING a probe into charges made by India’s election commissioner Ashok Lavasa, the Congress on Saturday (18) alleged that eroding institutional integrity has been the hallmark of Modi government and asked whether the poll panel has become “Election Omission” (EC) and a “puppet” in the prime minister’s hands.
Lavasa is learnt to have written to the chief election commissioner that he will be recusing from EC meetings as his dissent was not being recorded on clearances given by the poll panel to prime minister Narendra Modi over alleged poll code violations.
Congress chief spokesperson Randeep Surjewala asked whether the EC will save itself more embarrassment by recording Lavasa's dissent notes, as he accused PM Modi of "muzzling" democratic institutions.
Senior Congress leader Ahmed Patel said there must be a credible investigation into the issues raised by Lavasa, alleging that the sanctity of the electoral process and the institutional integrity of the Election Commission of India is in jeopardy.
“There must be a thorough credible enquiry into the issues raised by Mr Lavasa and restoration of the Commission's independent status as the watchdog of world's largest democracy. Mr Lavasa's letter - contents of which have appeared in the media - is extremely serious.
“The sanctity of the electoral process and the institutional integrity of the Election Commission of India is in jeopardy,” said Ahmed Patel on Twitter.
In a statement, Surjewala said, "Election Commission has become 'Election Omission'. Ashok Lavasa, one of the three members of the Central Election Commission (CEC), who dissented on multiple occasions when the Election Commission was busy giving clean chits to Modi-Shah duo opts out of EC meetings as the ECI even refused to record his dissent notes.
“This is a day-light murder of Constitutional norms, set conventions and propriety. The poll panel's rules express preference for a unanimous view, but provide for a majority ruling in the absence of unanimity. Being a Constitutional body, the minority view has to be recorded, but this is being trampled to protect Modi-Shah duo.”
He alleged that Lavasa's minority decisions going unrecorded "speaks volumes about the political pressure being exerted by the Modi government on the EC".
“Omitting the dissent of election commissioner, simply because he had asked for a notice to be issued to the PM Modi, has severely tarnished the institutional integrity of the election commission,” he said.
Surjewala alleged that Modi has "taken upon himself the task of denigrating, damaging, decimating, dislodging, and diminishing, the sanctity of every institution of India".
Prime minister Modi demolished the integrity of India's premier investigation agency – Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) in a midnight coup to save himself from any scrutiny in the Rafale Scam.
“Modi government used CVC as the 'Colossal Veil to Cover Corruption' to publish a fallacious report, based on which an incumbent CBI Director was illegally removed.
“The nation has to count only five more days to overthrow the 5 years of Mal-Governance of Modi government,” he said.
(PTI)
Dharavi slum in Mumbai
During the hearing, Clifford denied all the charges except for the rape charge, which was added to the indictment at the session. (Photo: Hertfordshire Police /Handout via REUTERS)
Man pleads not guilty to murder of BBC presenter's family
A 26-year-old man has pleaded not guilty to charges of murdering the wife and two daughters of BBC sports commentator John Hunt in a crossbow and knife attack.
Kyle Clifford, who also faces charges of rape, appeared via video link at Cambridge Crown Court on Thursday.
Clifford, arrested in July after a manhunt, is charged with three counts of murder, one count each of rape and false imprisonment, and two counts of possessing offensive weapons – a 10-inch knife and a crossbow.
During the hearing, Clifford denied all the charges except for the rape charge, which was added to the indictment at the session.
He is expected to enter a plea for that charge at a later date.
The victims were Carol Hunt, 61, wife of horseracing commentator John Hunt, and their daughters Louise, 25, and Hannah, 28.
An earlier hearing revealed that Louise had been found tied up and that both she and her sister had been shot with a crossbow, while their mother had been stabbed with a knife.
The fatal attack occurred at the family’s home in Bushey, a commuter town near Watford, northwest of London.
(With inputs from AFP)