The Congress and the JD (U) on Sunday accused the Election Commission of going “soft” on Prime Minister Narendra Modi who
repeatedly has been violating Model Code of Conduct including the announcements of abolition of interviews for Group B, C, D Government jobs through his radio programme Mann Ki Baat.
JD(U) general secretary KC Tyagi said the announcement, made at a time when Bihar Assembly polls are underway, would in effect lead to “effective implementation” of RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat’s call for a review of the reservation policy.
While the Congress hit out at PM Modi for remaining silent on the killing of Dalits in Haryana but talking at length about his proposed visit to Britain, Tyagi accused Modi of violating the model code by speaking on his ‘Mann Ki Baat’ about his plans to visit BR Ambedkar’s london home during his upcoming visit to the UK “so as to reach out to the SC and ST voters” in the State.
“The PM’s announcement of doing away with interviews for Group D,C and B non-gazetted posts in Central Government means a goodbye to the reservation policy as recruitment will only be held on merit basis. The PM’s statement suggests so. We strongly oppose this and will make representation to the EC soon and raise this issue inside and outside Parliament,” Tyagi said who was joined by Congress leader R P N Singh and eminent lawyer K T S Tulsi.
“This is the effective implementation of Mohan Bhagwat’s demand for a review of the reservation policy and the Prime Minister has to respond to the voters,” he said.
Tyagi also accused the EC of going “soft” on BJP and the PM. The grand alliance had petitioned the poll panel earlier this month seeking a ban on live telecast of Modi’s election rallies on days when polling is held in the state. It had also sought a ban on his ‘Mann Ki Baat’ address contending he would try and influence voters through it.
Tulsi, a Rajya Sabha MP, accused Modi of poll code violation with his announcement on abolition of interviews, saying the Election Commission had already made it clear that the Government cannot announce launch of any new scheme when the poll process is underway.
Tyagi demanded a role for the opposition in appointment of the Chief Election Commissioner and other members of the poll panel through a collegium system so as to ensure fairness in their functioning. “The Election Commission cannot dare to issue a notice to the PM,” he said.
Congress spokesperson R P N Singh said rather than talking about the “burning issues” touching every Indian and rise in prices of essential commodities, he chose to present a detailed itinerary about his proposed visit.
“It is unfortunate that the PM did not touch on issues that are prevalent and in the heart of every Indian.
He did not even condemn the killings of Dalits in Haryana and the atrocious language used by his Minister against the Dalits. He dwelt on detailed itinerary of his proposed visit to Great Britain and his plans to visit B R Ambedkar’s house in london but did not say how to safeguard the interest of Dalits in the country,” Singh said.