Congress Leader Bhai Jagatap Criticizes Election Commission and Calls for Transparency
Bhai Jagatap demands transparency from the Election Commission, citing dissent among commissioners and questioning recent electoral laws.
Mumbai, September 24 (Daily Kiran) : Congress leader and MLC Bhai Jagatap has expressed strong criticism of the Election Commission, the Special Investigation Report (SIR), and the central government. He claims that two commissioners have repeatedly documented their dissent in writing. Jagatap insists that a complete record of events related to the Election Commission should be made public to clarify the situation.
Speaking to reporters, Jagatap pointed out that in 2023, the Modi government introduced a law granting legal protection to election commissioners. He questioned the timing of this legislation, which was passed while 141 opposition MPs were suspended. “The Constitution is supreme in the country, and no one, including election commissioners, judges, or the Prime Minister, is above it,” he stated.
Jagatap has called for action against Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar and urged for a fast-tracked investigation into the matter, demanding that any guilty parties face consequences within six months.
On the issue of SIR in Maharashtra, he revealed that Congress leaders met with the state’s Chief Electoral Officer, S. Chokkalingam, to discuss discrepancies in the voter list and Forms 6, 7, and 8. He raised concerns about the identification of approximately 7.5 million voters and insisted that the Election Commission must clarify the situation. Jagatap emphasized that SIR is not just a Maharashtra issue and called for a review of the electoral processes in Bihar, West Bengal, and other states where it has been implemented.
He asserted that if serious irregularities in the electoral process are proven, appropriate legal and constitutional measures should be taken regarding the elections in question.
Referencing Rahul Gandhi’s Bharat Jodo Yatra, Jagatap noted that Gandhi traveled nearly 6,000 kilometers, raising awareness on various issues. He highlighted Gandhi’s activism concerning paper leaks and issues affecting students, women, and ordinary citizens.
Regarding the recent death of a student at IIT Bombay, Jagatap demanded a fair investigation into all circumstances surrounding the incident. He stressed that if the student was caught cheating, the relevant facts should be disclosed, but conclusions should only be drawn after a thorough investigation. He also called for inquiries into allegations of discrimination against students in institutions.
Finally, Jagatap expressed his objections to statements made by the Chief Minister and ministers regarding incidents of harassment of girls in Bihar. He insisted that such incidents involving minors should be taken seriously, and action must be taken against the perpetrators. The government should investigate the root causes of these occurrences to prevent future incidents.
