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Hans India
9 minutes ago
- Politics
- Hans India
‘Stealing not considered sin but calling someone a thief is': Opposition slams EC over authentication appeal
Congress-led opposition parties hit back at the Election Commission on Sunday, over its appeal to authenticate their "vote chori" claims by filing a supporting affidavit and also termed its elaborate media address on the Bihar Special Intensive Revision (SIR) controversy a mere eyewash. Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Gyanesh Kumar, flanked by senior EC officials, held a press conference in the capital and claimed that deliberate attempts were being made to fearmonger and misguide the voters of Bihar, apparently by opposition parties. It also stated that such fearmongering won't deter it from pursuing and implementing laid-down protocols. Replying to the CEC's presser, Congress accused it of being partisan towards the ruling party, while the RJD said that its clarification was devoid of any substance. Congress leader Pawan Khera, in a strong rebuttal, said: "Stealing is not considered a sin, but calling someone a thief is? Stop the theft, and we will stop calling you thieves. Why hasn't anyone given an account of one lakh votes from Mahadevapura?" Further accusing it breach of privacy, he said: "(BJP leader) Anurag Thakur is carrying digital voter lists of six constituencies—where did he get them from? Isn't that a breach of privacy? Did the Election Commission issue him a notice? No. But when it comes to CCTV footage, you say it violates privacy..." RJD MP Manoj Kumar Jha said: "No answers were given. Not a single question was answered. Maybe someone told them to hold the press conference because it was becoming embarrassing. So, they went ahead, but what was achieved? Which question did they actually answer? Forget the political parties—the voters are not convinced by your behaviour and conduct." "Logic cannot be used to justify opacity. Opacity means lack of transparency. The biggest concern is that the Election Commission appears neither impartial nor neutral. This should be a matter of serious concern for you." Purnia MP Pappu Yadav said, "The EC has no understanding of the Constitution or Babasaheb's (B.R. Ambedkar) ideas. After indulging in theft and robbery, will they speak about the Constitution?"
New Indian Express
30 minutes ago
- Politics
- New Indian Express
Rahul hits back at CEC, says Modi govt shielded poll body with 2023 law to aid BJP in ‘vote chori'
EC 'thorughly exposed', says Congress Meanwhile, the Congress on Sunday alleged that the ECI stood "thoroughly exposed" not only for its "incompetence" but also for its "blatant partisanship", soon after the CEC defended the SIR in Bihar and rejected as "baseless" the opposition party's allegations of "vote theft." The Congress also termed as "laughable" the claims made by the ECI that it makes no distinction between the ruling party and the Opposition. Responding to the CEC's remarks, Congress general secretary (communications) Jairam Ramesh asked whether the poll body will implement the Supreme Court's August 14 orders in letter and spirit. "Today, a short while after Shri Rahul Gandhi launched the INDIA janbandhan's Voter Adhikar Yatra from Sasaram, the CEC and his two ECs began by saying they make no distinction between the ruling party and the opposition. This is laughable, to put it very mildly, in the face of mountains of evidence to the contrary. Notably, the CEC answered none of the pointed questions raised by Shri Rahul Gandhi meaningfully," Ramesh said in a post on X. Claiming that what Gandhi has stated so far are based on the EC's own data, he said, "The ECI stands thoroughly exposed not only for its incompetence but also for its blatant partisanship." "All that matters now is simply this: will the ECI implement, in letter and spirit, the Supreme Court's orders of August 14th, 2025 on the Bihar SIR process?" Ramesh said. "It is constitutionally bound to do so. The nation is waiting and watching," the Congress leader asserted.
News18
an hour ago
- Politics
- News18
No burning question was answered: RJDs Manoj Jha on ECIs press conference
New Delhi [India], August 17 (ANI): Rashtriya Janata Dal leader Manoj Jha on Sunday said that nothing concrete was addressed by the Election Commission of India in its media interaction which was held earlier today. 'This institution (Election Commission) was born from the Constitution, it is not the Constitution… I would request them (Gyanesh Kumar) to recall Sukumar Sen (Former Chief Election Commissioner of India). In today's press conference, no burning question was answered, the Constitution cannot be torn to shreds in the name of the Constitution…", Manoj Jha told today, the Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar refuted allegations of 'vote theft" by Congress leader Rahul Gandhi and asked him to either furnish a signed affidavit or apologise to the nation for his CEC also termed the allegations of bias by the Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabhas as an 'insult" to the Constitution of India. '…An affidavit will have to be given or an apology should be made to the country. Teesra koi vikalp nahi (There is no third option.) If the affidavit is not received within 7 days, it means that all these allegations are baseless…" CEC Gyanesh Kumar said while addressing mediapersons at a briefing at the National Media Centre in the national Gandhi had on August 7 addressed a press conference in New Delhi which he presented Congress' research on voting in the Mahadevapura Assembly in Karnataka, a part of the Bangalore Central parliamentary constituency. Gandhi alleged 'vote chori" (vote theft) of 1,00,250 votes including duplicate voters, invalid addresses, and bulk registrations of votes at single Gandhi further pointed out an instance of 80 people registered in a single address in Gandhi had alleged that the poll body is 'destroying evidence" through the directive deleting CCTV footage from polling booths. He alleged that the EC was only preserving CCTV and webcasting footage of the election process for only 45 days after the whole process is completed, unless the election result is challenged in court. (ANI)
India.com
an hour ago
- Politics
- India.com
Will Election Commission conduct Bihar-like SIR in West Bengal? CEC Gyanesh Kumar makes big claim
Home News Will Election Commission conduct Bihar-like SIR in West Bengal? CEC Gyanesh Kumar makes big claim Will Election Commission conduct Bihar-like SIR in West Bengal? CEC Gyanesh Kumar makes big claim Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar has said that SIR in West Bengal will be announced at an appropriate time. Gyanesh Kumar- File image New Delhi: In a significant update amid the ongoing row on Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls in Bihar, Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar has said that the Election Commission will decide at an appropriate time whether to conduct a Special Intensive Revision (SIR) in West Bengal. Notably, the assembly elections of West Bengal are scheduled to be held in 2026. Responding to a question on SIR in a press conference in New Delhi, the CEC said that the decision will be taken collectively by the three commissioners. The remark of the ECI Chief are significant as it comes after the ECI in July published data from the last SIR held in Bengal in 2002, covering 11 districts and 103 assembly constituencies, amid political debate over fresh revisions in Bihar. Notably, Bengal CM Mamata Banerjee has also opposed the SIR in Bihar. What EC said on conducting SIR in West Bengal? 'We three (election) commissioners will decide at an appropriate time and take a decision on when to conduct SIR in West Bengal or other states. It will be announced at an appropriate time', CEC Gyanesh Kumar said while addressing a press conference. Was Bihar SIR carried out in haste? In response to the timing of conducting the SIR in Bihar, Kumar has clarified that it is a myth that SIR has been carried out in haste and emphasised that it is the EC's legal duty to correct the voter list before every election. 'It is a matter of grave concern that some parties and their leaders are spreading misinformation on SIR in Bihar… some political parties are firing from the Election Commission's shoulder. The EC exhorts all political parties to file claims and objections on draft electoral rolls in Bihar … 15 days are still remaining. 'Doors of the Election Commission are open to everyone, and booth-level officers and agents are working together in a transparent manner,' he said. (With inputs from agencies) For breaking news and live news updates, like us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter and Instagram. Read more on Latest India News on
Time of India
an hour ago
- Politics
- Time of India
Can't share machine-readable voters list: CEC Gyanesh Kumar cites SC order
Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar stated that sharing voter lists in machine-readable format with political parties is prohibited, citing a 2019 Supreme Court judgment. While searchable voter lists are available online, the machine-readable format is restricted due to potential misuse and privacy concerns. Tired of too many ads? Remove Ads Tired of too many ads? Remove Ads Citing a 2019 Supreme Court judgment Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar on Sunday said that the voter list in machine-readable format cannot be shared with political also said there was a difference between machine-readable and searchable a press conference here, Kumar said that the voter list available on its website can be searched using a voter card number and can also be said the machine-readable format is barred as it can be edited and can lead to its Congress has been demanding the voter list in machine-readable format, saying it will help it flag CEC said that in 2019, the top court had sided with its stand that a machine-readable format cannot be shared as it could compromise voters' pointed out that the issue was already raised by the Congress before the Supreme Court in a writ petition in 2018 filed by Kamal Nath , the then president of the Madhya Pradesh Congress to the Supreme Court verdict in Kamal Nath vs Election Commission of India , (2019), the officials said that the top court had observed that it found force in the submission of 11.2.2.2 of the Election Manual uses the expression " text mode ". The draft electoral roll in text mode has been supplied to the petitioner, the apex court had said."The clause nowhere says that the draft electoral roll has to be put up on the Chief Electoral Officer's website in a 'searchable PDF'."Therefore, the petitioner cannot claim, as a right, that the draft electoral roll should be placed on the website in a 'searchable mode'. It has only to be in 'text mode' and it is so provided," the apex court had observed.
