EC rejects Jairam Ramesh’s request for a week’s time to prove allegations against Shah
Chief Election Commissioner Rajiv Kumar and Congress leader Jairam Ramesh
The Election Commission of India (ECI) dismissed Congress leader Jairam Ramesh's plea for one week of time extension to substantiate his allegations against Union Home Minister Amit Shah. Ramesh had claimed that Shah was calling district magistrates (DMs) and collectors, alleging that he had contacted 150 of them.
The ECI has now demanded that Ramesh provide evidence for his claims by 7 pm on Monday (June 3). In the press briefing held by ECI on Monday ahead of the declaration of the results of the Lok Sabha elections, Chief Election Commissioner Rajiv Kumar addressed the allegations.
While saying that the vote counting process is 'absolutely robust',Kumar reacted strongly to Ramesh’s claims saying, “It's not right to spread a rumour and doubt everyone...Can someone influence them (district magistrates/returning officers) all? Tell us who did this. We will punish the person who did it...It is not right that you spread a rumour and doubt everyone.”
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Earlier on Saturday (June 1), in a letter the election body wrote, “You being a responsible experienced and very senior leader of a national party, you must have made such public statement just before the day of counting based on facts, information which you believed to be true. It is requested that details of 150 DMs to whom such calls have been allegedly made by the Home Minister along with the factual matrix basis of your information are shared by 7 pm today so that appropriate action can be taken."
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The commission further clarified that during the enforcement of the Model Code of Conduct, all officers report directly to the ECI and no DM had reported any undue influence.
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The ECI expressed concern that Ramesh's statement could undermine public trust in the electoral process. “As you are aware, the process of counting votes is a sacred duty cast upon every returning officer and such public statements by you tend to put an element of doubt and thus, deserves to be addressed in the larger public interest,” the letter had stated.
'Blatant and brazen intimidation'
Ramesh on June 1 asserted that Home Minister Amit Shah had been intimidating DMs and collectors.
“The outgoing Home Minister has been calling up DMs/Collectors. So far, he has spoken to 150 of them. This is blatant and brazen intimidation, showing how desperate the BJP is. Let it be very clear: the will of the people shall prevail, and on June 4th, Mr. Modi, Mr. Shah, and the BJP will exit, and the INDIA Janbandhan will be victorious. Officers should not get under any pressure and must uphold the Constitution. They are under watch,” Ramesh wrote on X social media account.
(With inputs from agencies)