Jairam Ramesh
New Delhi: The Election Commission of India (ECI) today rejected Congress leader Jairam Ramesh’s request for a week’s time extension to file a detailed copy to substantiate his allegations that attempts were made to influence District Magistrates of around 150 Parliamentary Constituencies. It directed Ramesh to file his response along with the factual matrix of his allegations by 19.00 hours today, “failing which it would be presumed that you have nothing substantive to say in the matter and the Commission would proceed ahead to take appropriate action”.
Sources said Jairam Ramesh filed the response before today’s deadline expired where he accused the ECI of “double standards” and asked why it didn’t take any action on the violation of the Model Code of Conduct by the Bharatiya Janata Party leaders. However, its veracity could not be ascertained immediately.
Jairam Ramesh in his earlier response today to a notice from the ECI that he must share details of those 150 DMs along with the factual matrix/ basis of his information by 19.00 hours on June 2, 2024, “so that appropriate action can be taken”, sought a week’s extension to furnish the details. He pleaded that his official duties these two days before the counting required seeking such an extension to file a detailed reply.
Ramesh claimed that the charges were not against the ECI but instead, “a request to safeguard against such malpractices”. He stated, “Most importantly, the spirit of the concerns raised related to the previously well-documented and high-handed behaviour of the ruling regime in misusing and even intimidating official machinery (detailed complaints of which are on record over these last 6 years).”
He further stated in his earlier response to the Commission that after receipt of the letter from the ECI yesterday, he requested his party colleagues to inform the Commission at the hearing for the basis of their concerns. “These were suitably elaborated for you, and we pointed out that our concern is one vis-à-vis vigilance and that we cannot put serving officers in jeopardy by putting a target on their backs”.
Also read: ECI notice to Jairam Ramesh over allegations against 150 DMs
The ECI, however, responded by saying that Ramesh’s allegations had “serious connotation and direct bearing on the sanctity of the counting process, scheduled for tomorrow”. In its letter to Ramesh, the Commission reiterated that “no DM has reported any such undue influence as alleged by you”.
– global bihari bureau
