Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge on Sunday hit out at the government for tweaking an election rule to prevent public inspection of certain elec🐬tronic documents, alleging𒀰 it is part of the Modi government's "systematic conspiracy" to destroy the institutional integrity of the Election Commission.
Kharge also said the Modi government's "calibrated erosion" of the ECI's i🌼ntegrity is a frontal attack on the Constitution and democracy.
The govꦏernment has tweaked an election rule to pr🤡event 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 of India (ECI), the Union l🦂aw ministry on Friday amended Rule 93(2)(a) of the Conduct of Election Rules, 1961, to restrict the type of "papers" or documents open to public inspection.
Reacting to the development, Kharge said, "Modi government's audacious amendment in the Conduct of Election Rules is another assault in its systemati☂c conspiracy to destroy the institutional integrity of the Election Comm📖ission of India."
"Earlier, they had removed the Chief Justice of India from the Selection panel which appoints Election Commissioners, and now they have resorted to stonewall electoral information, even after a High Court order," he said in a post on X.
Everytime the Congress party wrote to the ECI, regarding specific poll irregularities such as voter deletions and lack of transparency in EVMs, the ECI has responded in a condescending tone and chosen not to even acknowledge certa🔥in serious complaints, Kharge said.
"This again proves that the ECI, even though it is a quasi-judicial body, is not behaviꦚngཧ independently," he said.
"The Modi government's calibrated erosion of ECI's integrity is a frontal attack on the Const♈itution and Democracy and we will take every step to safeguard them," Kharge said.
Congre♏ss general secretary in-charge communications Jairam Ramesh had said the party would legally challenge the🦄 amendment.
Lok Sabha MP and Congress general secretary (organisation) KC Venugopal said the poll panel had chܫosen opacity and a ღpro-government attitude in its dealings thus far.
According to ♈Rule 93, all "papers" related to elec🧸tions shall be open to public inspection.
The 💟amendment inserts ♎"as specified in these rules" after "papers".
Law ministry and ECI officials separately expla🗹ined that a court case was the "trigger" behind the amendment.
While documents such as nomination forms, appointment of election agents, results and election account statements are mentioned in the Conduct of Election Rules, electronic documents such as CCTV camera footage, webcasting footage and video recordi🔥ng of candidates during the Model Code of Conduct period are not covered.
"CCTV coverage, webcasting of p༺olling stations are not carried out und♎er Conduct of Election Rules but are the result of steps taken by the ECI to ensure a level playing field," a former ECI official explained.