In an interview with PTI, Mr. Quraishi mentioned a lot of the phrases utilized by Mr. Gandhi whereas making the allegations resembling likening them to a “hydrogen bomb” have been “political rhetoric” however asserted that the complaints which he was elevating should be investigated intimately.
The former Chief Election Commissioner slammed the Election Commission of India (ECI) over the style wherein it carried out the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls in Bihar, and mentioned it’s not solely “opening a pandora’s field” however the ballot physique has put its hand within the “hornet’s nest” which is able to damage it.
“You know after I hear any criticism of the ECI, I really feel very involved and really damage not solely as a citizen of India but additionally as a result of having been the CEC myself, I’ve additionally laid a brick or two in that establishment,” he instructed PTI forward of the launch of his new e book ‘Democracy’s Heartland’ revealed by Juggernaut Books.
“When I see that establishment below assault or weakened in any method I really feel involved and the EC itself has to do introspection and has to really feel involved. It is as much as them to face as much as all of the forces and the pressures that could be influencing their choices,” mentioned Mr. Quraishi, who was the Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) between 2010 and 2012.
“They need to win the arrogance of the folks — you want the arrogance of the Opposition events. For me, I all the time gave choice to the opposition events as a result of they’re the underdogs,” he mentioned.
Mr. Quraishi opined that the celebration in energy does not want as a lot pampering because the Opposition does as a result of the latter is out of energy.
“So the instruction typically to my employees [when I was the CEC] was to throw the doorways open, in the event that they [Opposition] need an appointment, give them instantly, hearken to them, speak to them, if they need some small favour, do it if it’s not at the price of anyone else,” he mentioned.
Here the Opposition has to go to the Supreme Court from time to time and actually, 23 events have needed to say they don’t seem to be getting an appointment and no one is listening to them.
Mr. Quraishi argued that the ECI ought to have known as for a probe into Mr. Gandhi’s allegations as an alternative of asking him to submit an affidavit.
“Rahul Gandhi is the Leader of Opposition [LoP] in spite of everything, don’t shout at him the way in which the ECI did. I believe it’s not just like the ECI that now we have identified. He is after all of the LoP, he’s not a person on the road. He is representing thousands and thousands of individuals, he’s voicing the opinion of thousands and thousands of individuals and to say to him, ‘give an affidavit in any other case we’ll do that and try this’, the physique language and the language used is each objectionable and offensive,” Mr. Quraishi mentioned.
“I’ve typically mentioned, suppose they [Opposition] additionally flip round and say that ‘okay you’re developing with a brand new roll, give an affidavit that it’s mistake free. And if there’s a mistake you can be held criminally liable’. Can you consider that state of affairs?” he mentioned.
Asserting that the ECI ought to have ordered a probe into the allegations, Mr. Quraishi mentioned not simply the LoP but when anyone had complained, the traditional follow was to right away order a probe.
“Not solely we [ECI] need to be honest however now we have to look like honest. The probe brings out the information. So as an alternative of the way in which the EC responded, the probe was the correct factor to do and so they missed a possibility,” he mentioned.
His remarks come after Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar mentioned at a press convention in New Delhi final month that Mr. Gandhi ought to both give a declaration below oath inside seven days on his allegations of irregularities within the voters listing, else his ‘vote theft’ claims could be rendered baseless and invalid.
Levelling allegations of “vote chori”, Mr. Gandhi had, by way of a presentation at a press convention, cited information from the 2024 Lok Sabha polls to say that over 1 lakh votes have been “stolen” in Mahadevapura Assembly phase in Karnataka by way of 5 kinds of manipulation. He alleged comparable irregularities in different States.
Mr. Gandhi additionally carried out a ‘Voter Adhikar Yatra’ throughout Bihar towards the Special Intensive Revision of electoral rolls, alleging collusion between the BJP and the ECI for “stealing votes”.
Asked about Mr. Gandhi’s declare that he’ll quickly provide you with a “hydrogen bomb” of revelations on “vote chori”, Mr. Quraishi mentioned the Leader of the Opposition has used these sorts of phrases and most of it’s “political rhetoric” which must be taken as such solely.
“But on the identical time, if there are critical points, critical complaints which he’s elevating, they should be investigated intimately not solely to the satisfaction of the LoP however of the entire nation, the entire nation is watching,” he mentioned.
On whether or not the folks’s confidence on the electoral course of had been shaken, Mr. Quraishi answered within the affirmative.
Questioning the logic behind excluding Electors Photo Identity Card (EPIC) from the listing of paperwork that might be supplied for inclusion within the voters listing, Mr. Quraishi mentioned EPIC is issued by the EC itself and never recognising it has very critical implications.
“Remember it has taken the EC 30 years to succeed in 99% or 98% of the folks, to deliver the electoral roll to this stage of perfection. One per cent is up to date yearly by door-to-door abstract inquiry’ – That is the traditional factor. So to throw the present roll within the dustbin and to begin another time. You try to do in three months what we had completed in 30 years,” Mr. Quraishi mentioned.
“So, it’s shopping for bother. It is just not solely opening a pandora’s field however I believe the EC has put its hand within the hornet’s nest and it’ll damage them. Of course the Supreme Court has already requested to make use of Aadhaar and due to the stress of the highest courtroom, the EC has began utilizing Aadhaar,” he mentioned.
Mr. Quraishi mentioned he’s stunned the Supreme Court didn’t observe up on EPIC which is the ECI’s personal creation.
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