"Not appropriate to amplify Rahul Gandhi's remarks": Kiren Rijiju
Kiren Rijiju says Rahul Gandhi's comments on the Election Commission should not be amplified to avoid sending the wrong message to society.
Union Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju has stepped in to defend the Election Commission of India (ECI), stating that the recent criticisms made by Lok Sabha Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi should not be given undue prominence in the public sphere. Rijiju cautioned that amplifying such statements could potentially send a "wrong message" to the citizens of the country.
The Spark: Allegations of 'Match-Fixing'
The political tension escalated following remarks by Rahul Gandhi, who accused Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Gyanesh Kumar of being involved in "match-fixing elections." Gandhi's allegations were rooted in a media report involving former Kerala Chief Secretary Jiji Thomson. According to the report, Thomson claimed that in 2016, while Kumar was a serving IAS officer, he had suggested that Thomson contest the 2019 Lok Sabha elections on a BJP ticket—an offer Thomson reportedly declined.
Gandhi intensified his attack, suggesting that the transition of Kumar from an IAS officer to the head of the poll panel was part of a larger scheme. "First, Gyanesh Kumar... was used to recruit for the BJP. Then Modi and Shah made him the umpire and put him in charge of match-fixing India's elections," Gandhi remarked.
The Controversy: Internal Objections at ECI
The debate has been further fueled by an investigative report by The Indian Express. The report highlighted that Election Commissioners Sukhbir Singh Sandhu and Vivek Joshi had reportedly raised objections at least 14 times over a ten-month period. These objections were specifically related to decisions and procedures involving the Special Internal Review (SIR) exercise.
According to the findings, the two commissioners had raised concerns regarding certain orders and decisions that were allegedly issued without their knowledge. This has led to intense scrutiny from opposition parties regarding the internal functioning and transparency of the poll body.
Political Reactions and Demands for Transparency
The political landscape has seen sharp divides in response to these developments:
- The Government's Defense: Beyond Rijiju, Uttar Pradesh Minister Manoj Kumar Pandey also stood by the institution. He noted that all three Election Commissioners have stepped forward to clarify the situation, effectively addressing the allegations made by the opposition.
- The Opposition's Counter: Congress MP Pramod Tiwari has demanded full transparency. He insisted that the letters written by the two Election Commissioners over the last ten months must be made public so the nation can understand the specific concerns raised. Tiwari further questioned the BJP, asking for clarity on whether the CEC is acting as an agent for the ruling party.
The Election Commission's Response
The Election Commission of India has firmly rejected the claims of internal disagreement regarding its SIR decisions. The poll body maintained that all decisions related to the exercise were reached with the "unanimous approval of the Commission."
Addressing the specific mention of correspondence, the ECI clarified that a letter sent to the Cabinet Secretary was strictly related to the functioning of an officer on deputation. The commission emphasized that the communication was not related to any policy matters concerning the Commission or its IT division.