New Delhi: Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge on Sunday criticized the government for tweaking election rules to prevent public inspection of certain electronic documents, alleging it was part of a “systematic conspiracy” by the Modi government to destroy the election commission’s institutional integrity. The Modi government’s “calibrated erosion” of ECI’s integrity is a frontal attack on the Constitution and democracy.
The government has changed election rules to prevent public inspection of certain electronic documents such as CCTV cameras and webcasting footage and to prevent misuse of video recordings of candidates.
Based on the recommendations of the Election Commission of India (ECI), the Union Law Ministry on Friday amended Rule 93(2)(a) of the Conduct of Elections Rules, 1961 to restrict the type of “papers” or documents. Public inspection.
Reacting to the development, Kharge said, “The Modi government’s bold amendment to the election rules is yet another attack in a systematic conspiracy to destroy the institutional integrity of the Election Commission of India.” “Earlier, they removed the Chief Justice of India from the selection panel that appoints the Election Commissioners, and now they have resorted to stonewalling for election information even after the High Court order,” he said in a post on X.
“This again proves that the Election Commission, though a quasi-judicial body, is not acting independently,” he said.
“The Modi government’s calibrated erosion of ECI’s integrity is a frontal assault on the Constitution and democracy and we will take every step to protect them,” Kharge said.
Congress General Secretary Jairam Ramesh, in-charge of communication, has said that the party will legally challenge the constitutional amendment.
According to Rule 93, all documents related to the election shall be open for public inspection.
The amendment inserts “as prescribed in these rules” after “papers”.
Law ministry and ECI officials separately explained that the court case was the “trigger” behind the amendment.
Although documents such as nomination forms, appointment of election agents, results and election accounting statements are mentioned in the Election Code of Conduct, electronic documents such as CCTV camera footage, webcasting footage and video recording of candidates are not mentioned in the Code of Conduct period. covered up
“CCTV coverage, webcasting of polling stations is not done under the conduct of election rules but is a result of steps taken by the ECI to ensure a level playing field,” said a former ECI official.