ECI New Rule: Mallikarjun Kharge's attack, said – Modi government's big conspiracy to destroy the integrity of the Election Commission

New Delhi. Congress has targeted the Center over the changes made in the Election Rules to prevent public inspection of electronic documents. Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge said that the Central Government wants to destroy the institutional integrity of the Election Commission. The change in election rules is a well-planned conspiracy to destroy the integrity of the Election Commission. By deliberately abolishing the Election Commission, Modi Government is attacking democracy and the Constitution.

Read:- The evil game of cutting votes of opposition supporters is being played not only in one constituency but everywhere: Akhilesh Yadav

Kharge wrote in a post on X that the amendment in election rules is a systematic conspiracy of the Modi government to destroy the institutional integrity of the Election Commission of India. Earlier, the government had removed the Chief Justice of India from the selection panel to appoint the Election Commissioner. Now the government is resorting to hiding election information even after the order of the High Court.

Kharge said that whenever Congress wrote to the Election Commission about irregularities like deletion of voters' names and lack of transparency in EVMs, the Commission responded in an insulting tone. Apart from this, some serious complaints were also not accepted. This proves that the Election Commission, though a quasi-judicial body, is not behaving independently. The Modi Government's measured attempt to undermine the integrity of the Election Commission is a direct attack on the Constitution and democracy and we will take every step to protect them.

Earlier, Congress General Secretary Jairam Ramesh had said that the party will challenge the amendment legally. Lok Sabha MP and Congress general secretary (organisation) KC Venugopal said that the Election Commission has so far adopted ambiguity and a pro-government attitude in its functioning.

this is the case

Read :- Congress and people of Indi alliance committed the sin of tarnishing democracy…Shivraj Singh Chouhan's target on opposition

The central government has made changes to election rules to prevent public inspection of certain electronic documents such as CCTV camera and webcasting footage as well as video recordings of candidates to prevent their misuse. Based on the recommendation of the Election Commission (EC), the Union Law Ministry has amended Rule 93 of the Conduct of Elections Rules, 1961, to restrict 'papers' or documents open for public inspection. According to Rule 93, all 'papers' relating to the election shall be open to public inspection. In this amendment, after 'papers', 'as specified in these rules' has been added.

There was a court case behind the amendment

Law Ministry and Election Commission officials separately said a court case was the 'trigger' behind the amendment. While documents such as nomination forms, appointment of election agents, results and election account details are mentioned in the election conduct rules, CCTV camera footage, webcasting footage and video recordings of candidates during the Model Code of Conduct Period. Like electronic documents do not come under its scope.