The EC strongly rebutted charges of "timidity" leveled against it by BJP leaders led by Arun Jaitley, sitting on dharna in Varanasi. It stated it had enough powers under the Constitution to perform its duties with forthrightness and boldness. Objecting to the "harsh" and "sweeping" statements made about the EC's neutrality, the CEC said the poll panel deplored attempts by political parties to cast aspersions on constitutional bodies.
Sampath defended the Varanasi district magistrate, saying he had rightly gone by professional advice that cited security and suitability concerns. However, even as he gave an all-clear to the Varanasi DM over not allowing Modi's rally, he added there were some other complaints against the officer by the BJP that would be looked into.
"We would like to assure you the commission will be very fair in treating not only the officer but also complaints against him," he said. EC sources said the jury was still out on the neutrality of the returning officer and the commission could review the complaints against him at its Friday meeting and decide on whether he needs to be replaced. Another option is to ask him to go on leave until the polling is over.
Reacting strongly, BJP leader Venkaiah Naidu in New Delhi said "denying permission to a candidate for campaigning means denying democracy. It's discrimination." Attacking the returning officer for his "totally partisan" approach under pressure of the UP government, Naidu added, "They're trying to prevent a candidate from reaching out to the electorate. It's against the constitutional spirit. It's against the democratic spirit. It's against the code of conduct prescribed by the EC."
Asking the EC to act against the officer, Naidu said not doing so "would send the wrong message to not just the country but across the world... We hope the EC with appellate authority will intervene and see to it that a wrong is set right."
Refuting the charge that permission was granted for the BJP's Beniabagh rally on May 6 and money collected, followed by abrupt rescinding of the permission on May 7, the CEC clarified that whenever an application seeking permission for a rally is made, some money is collected.
"Collection of this money doesn't mean permission is granted," he said. Also, he reminded that an alternative site was sought thereafter, though the BJP later decided that they wanted the rally at the original site.
Throughout the day in Varanasi, BJP workers held protests at BHU's gate even as the party's PM candidate Narendra Modi addressed a rally at Jagatpur Degree College 20km away in Rohania. Senior BJP leaders Amit Shah, Arun Jaitley, Anant Kumar, Laxmikant Bajpayi and scores of workers sat on a dharna near the statue of Madan Mohan Malaviya braving 39 degrees heat for over two hours.
Failing to bear the heat, Jaitley shifted under the shade of a nearby shop. The entire area had turned into a saffron melee raising anti-administration slogans. BJP workers also blackened the pictures of the DM and chief minister Akhilesh Yadav to give vent to their anger and frustration.
Heavy deployment of police force and para-military forces did not prevent the BJP workers from damaging the jeep of TMC candidate Indira Tiwari, who was passing through the area for campaigning. Tiwari alleged BJP men were targeting her. In another incident, two AAP volunteers were allegedly beaten up by BJP supporters. Both the matters were reported to police.
"The Varanasi administration is working on the directions of the SP-led state government," said Shah. Jaitley asked when rallies were allowed in violence-prone states like Kashmir and Maoist hotbeds, why were they being disallowed in Varanasi.
Modi was to address two election rallies at Rohania and Beniabagh on Thursday. Permission was also sought for performing Ganga Aarti and holding a meeting with about 150 eminent citizens in the banquet hall of a hotel in Cantonment. Except the rally at Rohania, permission was refused for all other programmes.
No comments:
Post a Comment