NEW DELHI:
The Election Commission of India (ECI) has ignited a storm of controversy after sending a notice to senior AAP leader Atishi. What started as a routine notification quickly escalated into a heated debate as questions surfaced regarding the impartiality of the ECI. The sequence of events unfolded dramatically, with the BJP circulating the news of the ECI’s notice in the media before it reached Ms. Atishi herself. In a fiery response, Ms. Atishi raised concerns about the ECI’s independence, questioning whether it has become a subsidiary of the BJP.
Her grievances extended to what she perceives as the ECI’s selective inaction, despite her persistent appeals regarding various issues, including IT raid at AAP leader’s houses, AAP office sealings, and the BJP’s objectionable campaign material. The stark contrast in the ECI’s responsiveness to complaints from different political factions has only fuelled questions of bias and raised serious questions about the integrity of the electoral process.
The AAP senior leader and Cabinet Minister in the Kejriwal Government, Ms. Atishi, held a press conference appealing to the Election Commission of India (ECI) to ensure a ‘non-partisan’ election process. She said, “Today, the Election Commission of India (ECI) sent me a notice regarding a press conference that I held based on a complaint from the BJP on April 4. On April 4, the BJP complained, and on April 5 at 11:15 AM, it flashed on all news channels that the ECI had sent a notice to AAP leader Atishi. This news aired at 11:15 AM on all TV channels, and half an hour later, at 11:45 AM, I received the actual notice via email. This means that the news of the Election Commission of India’s notice is planted by the BJP in the media first, and then the ECI issues the notice.”
“Today, I want to ask the Election Commission of this country, have you become a subsidiary unit of the BJP? When the Model Code of Conduct is already enforced, and the Enforcement Directorate (ED) arrests a sitting Chief Minister, a prominent opposition figure, and the national convenor of one of the six national parties of the country, does the Election Commission send a notice to the ED? When the Income Tax Department seals the bank accounts of a major opposition party, the Congress Party, does the Election Commission send a notice to the Income Tax Department? When the Income Tax Department sends notices to the CPI and CPI (M) regarding their decades’ old returns filings just after the election announcement, does the Election Commission send a notice to the Central Government’s Income Tax Department?” the senior AAP leader questioned.
She affirmed that right in front of the eyes of the Election Commission of India, the ruling party at the centre, BJP, is openly misusing the CBI, ED, and Income Tax Department. Before the elections, the Election Commission of India changes Chief Secretaries, Home Secretaries, and DGP Police in states where the opposition governs. When the opposition, represented by the INDIA alliance, approaches the Election Commission and demands the interim change of directors of the Income Tax Department, CBI, and ED until the elections, the Election Commission does nothing.
“After the announcement of elections, the Income Tax Department raids the home of AAP MLA and leader Gulab Singh Yadav. The AAP complains about it, demands time for the meeting, but the Election Commission takes no action. On March 23, we requested time from the Election Commission regarding the raid at AAP MLA Gulab Singh’s home. From March 23 to today, April 5, the Election Commission has not granted us a meeting. The Election Commission did not issue any notice to the Income Tax Department, but when BJP complains, the Election Commission sends a notice within 12 hours. Before sending the notice, the Election Commission also reports to the BJP, and the BJP plants the news in the media,” she said.
Ms. Atishi mentioned that the AAP office remained sealed for four consecutive days with barricades around it, placed by the Delhi police. “We sent another letter on March 26, demanding time from the Election Commission, stating that we had written a letter to the ECI on March 23. Again, on March 26, we wrote that our party office has been sealed, our party leaders cannot reach, our party candidates cannot reach, but the Election Commission did not provide any time. The Election Commission did not issue a notice to the Delhi Police. After that, the AAP complained about the BJP’s illegal hoardings on March 29, then on April 1, and today, April 5. We repeatedly sent letters to the Election Commission regarding BJP’s violations of the Model Code of Conduct, objectionable posters, their illegal hoardings, but neither on March 29, nor on April 1, and not today, did the Election Commission send any notice to the BJP,” she said.
The AAP leader shared, “Today, it is a matter of concern for the country that the Election Commission of India, whose responsibility is to be nonpartisan, to conduct free and fair elections, to provide a level playing field, questions are being raised about their (ECI) neutrality. We have seen how the country’s major agencies have bowed down before the BJP-led central government, whether it’s the CBI, ED, Income Tax Department, or the State Bank of India.”
Appealing to the ECI, Ms. Atishi stated, “Today, I want to appeal to the Election Commission that you have a huge responsibility given by the constitution of this country. In the constitution of this country, you have been entrusted with the responsibility of safeguarding democracy. Whether it’s today’s three Election Commissioners, Mr Rajiv Kumar, Mr Gyanesh Kumar, or Dr Sukhbir Singh Sandhu, you are the successors of TN Seshan. You are running an Election Commission that the whole world watches, and the whole world praises that in a country like India, questions have never been raised about the impartiality of elections.”
“Today, I want to appeal to the Election Commission not to bow down before the BJP and their central government. Just as even after so many years, the entire country remembers Mr TN Seshan because he ensured a free and fair elections, transparent election process, level playing field, to new heights. If today, Mr Rajiv Kumar, Mr Gyanesh Kumar, and Dr Sukhbir Singh Sandhu do not ensure free and fair elections and a level playing field, then for all the wrong reasons, the entire country will remember all three of you for the coming 100 years,” Ms. Atishi concluded.
