Narendra Modi questions EC’s impartiality

Ahmedabad, 4 May, 2014

Narendra Modi took on the Election Commission, accusing it of not acting impartially in the wake of complaints of booth rigging in West Bengal, Bihar and western Uttar Pradesh and dared it to take action against him.

“Why are you not acting? What is your intention? If you feel wrong about what I am saying now, then you are free to lodge another case against me,” Modi told an election rally in Asansol on Sunday.

“It is your responsibility to ensure impartial polls. I am making very serious allegations against you,” he said, adding, “You have failed to stop rigging and violence in these areas. False cases have been filed against our candidate Babul Supriyo. Election Commission’s work is to protect people. I request you to fulfill your responsibilities in the right way.”

He said that the poll watchdog has all the government machinery at its disposal and enjoys more powers than even the Prime Minister.

“Democracy doesn’t work like this, I know that in the elections on 30th, how much rigging took place. Will this game go on?” he asked.

Modi recalled that he had said in Uttar Pradesh also that in some areas problems are going to happen.

“But Election Commission could do nothing. Today I am saying it again that in Bengal, Bihar and western Uttar Pradesh the same thing is going to happen. Is it not the responsibility of the Election Commission that elections should be peaceful, there should be no rigging, no violence?,” he said.