Chief Election Commissioner Rajiv Kumar on Monday described Congress leader Jairam Ramesh\u2019s allegations against Union Home Minister Amit Shah of making calls to 150 District Magistrates to influence the outcome as a part of a larger \u201cfake narrative\u201d peddled routinely at the time of the parliamentary polls. <\/p>\n
- \n
- Also read:<\/b>Election should happen one month before schedule to beat heat: CEC Rajiv Kumar<\/b><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
Rajiv Kumar\u2019s assertion at a press conference came on a day when the Election Commission of India (ECI) refused to give Congress general secretary (communications) Ramesh an extension to reply to the notice issued to him for making serious allegations against Shah. <\/p>\n
The Congress leader had sought a week\u2019s time to submit his response to the ECI letter. Congress sources said he will file his response \u201csoon.\u201d<\/p>\n
Ramesh was directed by the ECI to file his response with a \u2018factual matrix\u2019 by 7 pm on Monday with a warning that compliance failure will invite \u2018appropriate action.\u2019 <\/p>\n
\u201cI am directed to refer to your letter dated June 3, 2024, in response to the Commission\u2019s letter of even number dated June 2, 2024, whereby you have sought an extension of one week to file a detailed reply,\u201d ECI said in a letter addressed to Jairam Ramesh on Monday. <\/p>\n
The Commission made it clear in the official communication to Ramesh that \u201cfailing which it would be presumed that you have nothing substantive to say in the matter and the Commission would proceed ahead to take appropriate action.\u201d<\/p>\n
The Commission was miffed since it stated that allegations that attempts were made by Shah to influence the DMs of 150 Lok Sabha seats, who are also the Returning Officers and District Election Officers, has serious connotation and direct bearing on the sanctity of the counting process scheduled for Tuesday.<\/p>\n
The ECI said no DM reported any undue influence as alleged by the Congress leader.<\/p>\n
\n\u2018Fake narratives\u2019
\n<\/h5>\nMeanwhile, CEC Rajiv Kumar said one of the three learnings of this election is that they should have been well prepared for tackling \u201cfake narratives\u201d which, as per him, was circulated even at the time of 2019 elections. <\/p>\n
Insisting that there is a pattern and design to it, Kumar said, \u201cthis is fake narrative which is going on. We failed to understand that. We admit that. Now we know.\u201d The CEC, however, ruled out that the fake narrative came from abroad and conceived and peddled from within the country. <\/p>\n
\u201cWe never realised the fake narrative. First, it came that voter list was wrong. We prepared a long affidavit to reply to those allegations. Then it emerged that things were alright. Tomorrow the elections will be over, tell us where it was wrong. Two to four per cent might be here and there… in some villages.. 98 per cent is right. The attempt was to ignite some spark at the time of elections,\u201d Kumar said in his detailed clarification on such issues raised by opposition throughout the elections.<\/p>\n
\u201cAfter the election started, the EVM (issue) started. A case followed. What was that case? Let us see it. I\u2019m serious about it. What it could have done? It could have spread anarchy. When the political contestation is so heavy, workers are charged, candidates are competing against each other, if they realise this could lead to mess, the issue would have spread like a fire,\u201d he also explained.<\/p>\n
There was a case of EVM lodged in 2023 and our reply has been pending since then. But the whole issue was raked up before the first phase of voting, the CEC said. \u201cSame thing happened exactly four days before 2019 Lok Sabha elections,\u201d he flagged. <\/p>\n
He asked why didn\u2019t opposition parties bring the issue before the Commission in between 2019 to 2024. \u201cThere is a pattern, there is a design… Let\u2019s understand that,\u201d he observed.<\/p>\n
- \n
- Also read:<\/b>CEC Kumar dares oppn to give proof of attempts to influence poll process<\/b><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
Another case was pending on voter turnout from 2019, he said. \u201cWe had responded to it in July 2022. That was also fake… What was the allegation? We did not give voter turnout data and increased it by 1 crore. Neither we delay sharing of voter turnout data nor can we increase even one voter,\u201d the CEC asserted.<\/p>\n
The opposition parties had questioned 11 days delay in sharing polling percentage after the first phase of voting on April 19.<\/p>\n
- Also read:<\/b>CEC Kumar dares oppn to give proof of attempts to influence poll process<\/b><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n