New Delhi, April 9 (PTI): Sixty-six former bureaucrats have written to President Ram Nath Kovind, expressing concern over the credibility and functioning of the Election Commission for failing to deal with alleged cases of poll violations, particulary those involving the ruling party.
The instances cited by the former bureaucrats include Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s address to the nation about the successful launch of India’s first anti-satellite weapon (A-SAT), release of web-series “Modi: A Common Man’s Journey” and the “lethargy” in respect of the poll commission’s action on the launch of NaMo TV channel.
Referring to the instance of Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath dubbing the Indian Army “Modi’s Army”, the bureaucrats said strongest action was required from the EC to “nip such cavalier statements in the bud” but it “contented itself in the present case with a mild reprimand to the UP CM”.
“We write to express our deep anguish that the Election Commission of India, which has had a long and honourable record of holding free and fair elections despite the enormous challenges of scale and complexity, is suffering from a crisis of credibility today,” the letter said.
The EC’s independence, fairness, impartiality and efficiency are perceived to be compromised today, thereby endangering the integrity of the electoral process which is the very foundation of Indian democracy, the letter added.
“Hon’ble Rashtrapatiji, we are deeply concerned about the weak-kneed conduct of the ECI, which has reduced the credibility of this constitutional body to an all-time low.
Any erosion in the people’s confidence in the fairness of the ECI has very grave consequences for the future of our democracy and we hope that the gravity of the situation will be appreciated by the ECI,” the letter said.
The signatories include Salahuddin Ahmad, former Chief Secretary of Rajasthan, former Director General of Punjab Julio Riberio, Jawhar Sircar, former CEO of Prasar Bharati, Najeeb Jung, former Lt Governor of Delhi, Meeran Borwankar, former Pune Police Commissioner.
