EC goof up on Varanasi block: EC in violation of fundamentals of free and fair election

Thursday 8 May 2014

EC goof up on Varanasi block: EC in violation of fundamentals of free and fair election

Thursday, 08 May 2014 SHRI ARUN JAITLEY'S PRESS STATEMENT ON BEHALF OF THE BJP

The BJP welcomes the statement of the Election Commission with regard to re-affirming its independence and commitment towards conducting free and fair elections. However, the BJP does not accept the reasoning of the Returning Officer endorsed by the Election Commission that a rally by Shri Narendra Modi at Beniya Bagh, Varanasi, would have security repercussions.

This is on account of the following reasons:

On 7^th May 2014, permission to hold the rally at Beniya Bagh was infact granted to the BJP and subsequently revoked as an afterthought.

The reasons stated for rejection of permission is that in 1991 tension took place after a Beniya Bagh rally is not relevant. In the last 23 years, hundreds of the rallies have been held at Beniya Bagh including by the BJP. Nothing untoward has happened in all these rallies.

Even in the 2014 election, rallies have been held by Mr Akhilesh Yadav and Mr Arvind Kejriwal at Beniya Bagh itself.

Mr Narendra Modi has addressed over 450 rallies across the country where no tense incidents have taken place. There is no reason why tension would emerge in Varanasi. Rallies have held in the Kashmir Valley and Maoist affected areas. Is there a special reason why tension would be there in Varanasi alone?

For the Election Commission to abdicate is jurisdiction under Article 324 of the Constitution in favour of the judgement of the appointees of the state government would be a failure to exercise jurisdiction. It is dangerous to rely exclusively on the "professional" advice of those who may render unprofessional advice.

The requirement of free and fair elections is providing a level playing whereby allowing leaders of other political parties to hold rallies. By denying the same right to Shri Narendra Modi violates the fundamentals of a free and fair election.

http://www.bjp.org/en/media-resources/press-releases/press-shri-arun-jaitley-on-behalf-of-bjp