June 3rd 2024.
During a press conference on Monday, Chief Election Commissioner Rajiv Kumar boldly challenged the opposition to provide evidence to support their claims that returning officers and district magistrates were being influenced in order to disrupt the election process. Kumar emphasized that the commission would take swift action against any individuals found guilty of such actions. He was joined by Election Commissioners Gyanesh Kumar and SS Sandhu, as they addressed the ongoing concerns and allegations.
In a stern tone, Kumar stated that the opposition cannot simply spread rumors and cast doubt on the integrity of the election process without substantial proof. He went on to highlight the fact that the commission had already taken necessary precautions to combat any foreign interference, but the current allegations were coming from within the country itself. This seemed to be a subtle jab at the opposition, who had expressed concerns about potential outside influence.
The CEC also took issue with the specific accusation that district magistrates were being influenced. He challenged those making the claims to name the specific individuals involved so that the commission could take appropriate action against them. Kumar stressed that this needed to be done before the vote counting process began. This statement seemed to be in response to Congress leader Jairam Ramesh's recent claim that Home Minister Amit Shah had been intimidating district magistrates and collectors.
District magistrates and collectors are responsible for overseeing the election process in their respective districts. Ramesh had alleged that Shah had already contacted 150 of these individuals. Kumar acknowledged that a delegation of multiple parties had met with the commission on Sunday and made several demands. He assured that the commission had accepted all of their requests and that these issues were already addressed in the election manuals.
Kumar acknowledged that the commission had faced challenges in countering false narratives during the election process. He admitted that they were not able to fully combat the spread of misinformation and rumors. However, he reiterated that the commission had given clear instructions to all returning officers and assistant returning officers to follow the handbook and manuals without exception. He emphasized that these instructions were not to be taken lightly and were essential to maintaining the integrity of the election process, which has been ongoing for 70 years.
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