Priyanka Gandhi Targets BJP Over Gyanesh Kumar ECI Row (Img: IANS)
Malappuram: Congress MP Priyanka Gandhi Vadra on Saturday accused the BJP leadership of "shielding" Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Gyanesh Kumar, alleging that crimes against democracy cannot be committed "without support of the leadership".
Vadra said the INDIA Bloc parties were united over the allegations surrounding the Election Commission of India (ECI). Her remarks came days after a media report claimed there were differences within the poll panel, with decisions allegedly being taken without the knowledge of the two Election Commissioners.
Speaking to reporters during her visit to Kerala's Malappuram, Vadra said: "The INDIA alliance is very clear. Every single leader of the alliance, every single party is in full agreement that what is going on is absolutely illegal, anti-constitutional, and against our nation and democracy. Those who are doing it have to be taken to task. They have to be held responsible."
"I strongly believe that the legal safeguards provided to the Election Commissioner, which this BJP-led government instituted, need to be removed. If anybody is committing illegal acts against our nation, against this Constitution, they need to be tried," she added.
The INDIA Bloc parties are also likely to meet on September 30 to discuss the ECI dissent row and other issues.
Vadra also accused CEC Gyanesh Kumar of committing "treason" and called for legal action against him.
"He needs to be tried for treason," the Congress MP said.
She further alleged that the BJP was protecting both the Chief Election Commissioner and its leadership, arguing that such actions could not take place without the support of those at the top.
"The BJP is protecting the Chief Election Commissioner, but importantly, they are protecting their leadership. If the CEC is committing such a serious crime against democracy, it is practically impossible that he is doing it without the full support of the leadership," Priyanka Gandhi Vadra claimed.
She also echoed Lok Sabha Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi's demand for CEC Kumar's resignation.
The Congress MP also reiterated her earlier criticism of the BJP, describing the party as "overconfident".
"People have seen their (BJP's) overconfident statements before every election, predicting the exact number of seats they're going to get. Where are they getting that overconfidence from? The people of India are not that happy with them...What you hear on the ground from people is something, and what you're seeing as the election result is something else," she claimed.
