‘By adopting a passive role, EC has diminished its status as an independent authority’: Dr. E.A.S. Sarma to EC over Inaction on Modi-Shah MCC Violations
Former secretary to the Government of India, Dr. E.A.S. Sarma, has once again written to the Election Commission (EC) expressing his sharp disapproval of the lenient approach adopted by the election body towards the gross violations of the Model Code of Conduct (MCC) by Prime Minister Narendra Modi and BJP President Amit Shah.
In his letter dated May 3, 2019, Sarma has said, “I have brought to your notice several instances of violation of Model Code of Conduct (MCC) by Shri Narendra Modi, including statements that tend to divide the society, statements that drag the defence forces into electioneering, misuse of Prime Minister’s Office and Niti Ayog for BJP’s party work in electioneering etc. I feel disappointed at the Commission’s inexplicable silence which has already eroded its credibility and effectiveness as a Constitutional authority that ought to have acted without bias.”…
The Modi regime has been accused of destabilizing the democratic institutions and acting as an autocratic government in the past five years. Now with the EC also submitting to the pressure and dominance from the ruling party, its credibility is being seriously weighed. Inaction on the part of this constitutional body is making it appear as a ‘toothless watchdog.’
SEE ALSO:
- EC finds Smriti Irani’s charge of booth capturing in Amethi false (May 7, 2019, New Indian Express)
http://www.newindianexpress.com/nation/2019/may/07/ec-finds-smriti-iranis-charge-of-booth-capturing-in-amethi-false-1973752.html - Shah toys with Code of Conduct, SC demands Details of EC’s Clean Chits (May 7, 2019, Sabrang India)
https://www.sabrangindia.in/article/shah-toys-code-conduct-sc-demands-details-ec-clean-chits - “Ban PM Modi Rallies Over Rajiv Gandhi Remark”: Congress To Election Body (May 6, 2019, NDTV)
https://www.ndtv.com/india-news/ban-pm-modi-rallies-over-rajiv-gandhi-remark-congress-to-election-body-2033835 - Matching of VVPAT slips with EVMs: SC dismisses opposition’s plea (May 7, 2019, Times of India)
https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/matching-of-vvpat-slips-with-evms-sc-dismisses-oppositions-plea/articleshowprint/69212807.cms
