Priyanka escalates attack on CEC over voter rolls (Img: IANS)
Wayanad: Congress MP Priyanka Gandhi Vadra on Thursday sharpened her attack on Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar. She said that Kumar should face criminal prosecution if found responsible for tampering with electoral rolls and deleting voters’ names.
Her remarks came a day after The Indian Express reported that Election Commissioners Sukhbir Singh Sandhu and Vivek Joshi had raised at least 14 formal objections over 10 months related to the decisions and orders linked to the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls.
While speaking to media in Wayanad, Kerala, Priyanka Gandhi said, "Anybody who plays around with the process, the democratic process of our elections is committing treason against this nation. That is our very clear stand. I do not think anybody in that position should have legal protection in the way that he has. The Chief Election Commissioner has. If they have done illegal acts because tampering with the voters' rolls, deleting, I believe, 13 crore voters is a criminal act against democracy, against the Constitution and against the nation."
She added, "Since criminal acts fall under a particular law, and people are usually tried and prosecuted for doing those criminal acts, I do not see why the Election Commissioner has to have any protection against it. If he has done an illegal act, he has been fully aware that this is happening under his nose. His colleagues have brought it to his attention. He has ignored it and intentionally allowed an unfair election to take place. He should be criminally prosecuted just like any other criminal, and he should be tried for treason. This is my very clear stand."
Priyanka Gandhi had on Wednesday described the matter as an extremely serious issue for democracy, while Congress leader Jairam Ramesh alleged irregularities involving ECINet software and the SIR process.
Jairam Ramesh claimed that Goa's Chief Electoral Officer had written to the ECI eight times in seven days seeking restoration of voters whose names were removed by the software despite Electoral Registration Officers confirming their eligibility. He also alleged that changes to Form 6 had made registration more difficult and accused the process of targeting young voters.
Calling for Kumar's resignation, Ramesh alleged that the latest developments supported Rahul Gandhi's earlier claims concerning the Haryana and Maharashtra Assembly elections.
The Election Commission denied that reported objections reflected a split within the three-member poll panel. It also said that written notes, technical suggestions and internal checks were part of its normal functioning. Election Commission maintained that all decisions, including those concerning SIR, were taken unanimously.
The BJP also defended the process. Party spokesperson Sambit Patra said exchanges among commissioners reflected institutional deliberation and final SIR decisions had the approval of all three commissioners.
Meanwhile, Rahul Gandhi renewed his attack on the Election Commission. He described alleged "vote chori" as a crime against Indian voters and the Constitution.
The ECI has continued to maintain that decisions relating to SIR were unanimous and approved by all three commissioners.
