New Delhi: Congress on Saturday questioned the impartiality of the Election Commission (EC) of India after it truncated the electioneering ban on Assam BJP Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma from 48 hours to 24 hours, saying that it has 'failed' to discharge its obligations.
While addressing a press conference Dr Ashwani Kumar, former Union Law Minister said, "We express our deep dismay and disappointment at the decision of the Election Commission to reduce the barring period for Himanta Biswa Sarma’s campaigning period from 48 hours to 24 hours. This is unheard of in the annals of Parliamentary history that the Chief Election watchdog reverses its own decision made upon a complaint by a complainant without the courtesy of even a notice to that effect to the complainant."
READ: EC reduces campaigning ban on BJP's Himanta Biswa Sarma from 48 hrs to 24 hrs
He further added, "We are raising a much larger issue of principle here. The issue is about this sanctity, functioning, working of the Chief Election watchdog, whose constitutional mandate is to preserve the purity of the electoral process."
The Congress party alleged, "The Election Commission has singularly failed to discharge its obligations as far as this case is concerned because we do not know under what circumstances the commission was persuaded by a mere letter from Mr Sarma."
READ: My comments for Hagrama Mohilary were not a threat: Himanta Sarma's reply to EC
The Congress leader pointed out that Sarma, in his letter seeking reduction of the banning period, had expressed regrets saying he himself is a candidate. The party claimed that nothing new has been brought to the notice of the EC, except for the fact that in the earlier complaint he denied the allegation, in the latest application, he expressed regret.
"Even after he has admitted to wrongdoing, his punishment period has been reduced, this is unheard of in any judicial or quasi-judicial proceeding without notice to the complainant. So, we would like to tell the nation that all is not right with the way the elections in Assam are being conducted. The manner, in which the Chief Protector of the voter’s rights has acted, raises several doubts," he asserted.
READ: After Sarma, EC should also bar PM Modi, Amit Shah from campaigning in Assam: Congress
