Tamil Nadu CM M K Stalin
Credit: PTI File Photo
Chennai: Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M K Stalin on Monday termed as “undemocratic assault on the free and fair elections” the Union Government amending the Conduct of Election Rules that restrict access to a section of poll documents to the public.
The Ministry of Law and Justice amended the rules after the Punjab and Haryana High Court asked the Election Commission of India to share all documents relating to Haryana Assembly elections, including treating CCTV footage also as permissible under Rule 93(2) of the Conduct of Election Rules, to a petitioner.
“Democracy is facing its gravest threat under the BJP-led Union Government with the reckless amendment of Section 93(2)(a) of the Conduct of Election Rules, to kill the transparency in election,” Stalin said in a statement. The amendment was brought to prevent public inspection of election documents, including CCTV footage, thus destroying one of the basic features of the Constitution.
The BJP-led Union Government's fear extends beyond Haryana, reflecting anxiety over Maharashtra, where their “orchestrated and unholy victory in the recent assembly election has raised serious concerns," Stalin said.
The DMK president said it was shocking that the Election Commission of India, instead of fighting for institutional integrity, has willingly succumbed to the pressure of Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s government and “happily involved in defacing its own child - the free and fair election!”
He also appealed to all political parties, including BJP allies, to come forward and counter this undemocratic assault on the free and fair elections of the country.