GUWAHATI — Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma on Monday claimed that Congress
leader Rahul Gandhi's call for a transparent process to select election
commissioners involving the Chief Justice of India is "ironic",
alleging that the grand old party did not maintain any transparency while it
was in power.
Gandhi, the Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha, while
speaking during the Motion of Thanks to the President’s speech on Monday
criticised the exclusion of the Chief Justice of India from the committee that
selects election commissioners.
“Rahul Gandhi’s call for a transparent selection of election
commissioners involving the Chief Justice of India is ironic, given that during
Congress rule, appointments were made solely by the ruling government without
any transparency,” Sarma posted on X.
He asked, if the Congress truly believed in democratic
integrity, why didn’t the party implement these reforms in its decades of
power?
“This hypocrisy highlights their political
posturing—preaching transparency now after years of opaque governance. The
people of India can no longer be misled by such double standards. Practice what
you preach before demanding trust,” the chief minister added.
Gandhi had asked in the house that in the selection
committee, “It is now just the Prime Minister, Home Minister, and me (Leader of
the Opposition). Two to one. What's the purpose of me attending the meeting?”
