'Want to Know if EC is Still an Independent Body, Elections Free and Fair': Kanimozhi
The opposition's call for a discussion on the SIR has not been heeded to by the government, which has last week pushed ahead with legislative business and passed crucial Bills, including the new income tax Bills, and two Bills relating to sports governance: the National Sports Governance Bill and the National Anti-Doping (Amendment) Bill.
In an interview with The Wire, Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) parliamentary party leader and Lok Sabha MP Kanimozhi said that the BJP-led Union government believes in 'pushing ahead' with bills and questioned why elected representatives could not discuss the electoral process in parliament.
'The government is not prepared to listen to us. I don't understand if the elected representatives of the people of this country cannot discuss the electoral process, then who else has the authority?' said Kanimozhi.
While the government has said that the Election Commission is an independent constitutional body which cannot be discussed in parliament, Kanimozhi said that there is a need to know whether elections are still free and fair.
'I really want to know if the Election Commission is still an independent body. If it is, we don't have any problems. We want to know whether it is still an independent body and if elections are free and fair. That is why we need a discussion,' she said.
With Tamil Nadu slated to go to the polls next year, the BJP is looking to make inroads in the southern state through cultural outreach efforts including Prime Minister Narendra Modi's Gangaikonda Cholapuram temple visit in July, highlighting the history of the Chola Kings and tying up with the AIADMK for the assembly elections.
'Tamil people are not blind to what the BJP is trying to do'
The outreach comes amid the ongoing tussle between the Union government and the DMK government in the state over the implementation of the three language policy and NEP in the state.
Meanwhile an archaeologist who had earlier overseen the excavation of an ancient civilisation in Tamil Nadu's Keezhadi, has been asked by the archaeological survey of India (ASI) to resubmit his report in a move. Tamil Nadu politicians have described the development as a bid by the the BJP-led centre to try to suppress information about the ancient Tamil civilisation that had flourished on the banks of the Vaigai river.
'Tamil people are not blind to what the BJP is trying to do. We understand that you don't care about our culture. You don't care about our language. You try to suppress us. You try to suppress the greatness of our culture. And before every election if you suddenly discover the Cholas or Rajendra Chola. It is not that the people will get fooled by that,' said Kanimozhi.
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