7 hrs ago
Congress Alleges Modi Knew of ECINet Access Restrictions
Congress leader Jairam Ramesh accused Prime Minister Narendra Modi of knowing about limits on election officers’ access to a voter-registration portal.
Ramesh said two election commissioners raised concerns about the Election Commission’s IT division.
He said their complaint reached a government department overseen by the prime minister.
Ramesh also alleged that an officer mentioned in the complaints was later given oversight of that IT division.
He linked the dispute to disagreements about changes to voter lists.
These claims are allegations by Ramesh, not findings established in the reports.
The Election Commission said disagreements can happen during its work.
It also said its orders follow the law and proper procedures.
Congress general secretary Jairam Ramesh alleged Prime Minister Narendra Modi knew about restrictions on electoral registration officers’ access to the ECINet portal.
Ramesh said two election commissioners raised concerns that the Election Commission’s IT division restricted access and overrode officers’ statutory authority over voter-roll additions and deletions.
He said the commissioners’ complaint reached the Department of Personnel and Training, which he noted is under the prime minister’s charge.
Ramesh alleged an officer who was the subject of complaints to the Cabinet secretary in July was given oversight of the IT division from August.
The Election Commission said differing views are normal in institutional deliberations and that its orders have legal sanction and follow statutory procedures.
- Who
- Congress general secretary Jairam Ramesh, Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the Election Commission, and commissioners Sukhbir Singh Sandhu and Vivek Joshi.
- What
- Ramesh alleged Modi knew about restrictions on electoral registration officers’ access to ECINet and criticized an officer’s oversight role in the Election Commission’s IT division.
- Where
- India; the allegations concern the Election Commission and the Department of Personnel and Training.
- When
- Ramesh made the allegations on Friday; the reports identify the date as October 3. They refer to complaints in July and an oversight role given from August.
- Why
- Ramesh said the restrictions could override electoral registration officers’ statutory authority over voter-roll additions and deletions; the Election Commission said its orders follow statutory procedures.
Congress allegations
Election Commission response
ECINet access and voter-roll authority
Congress allegations
Ramesh said the IT division restricted electoral registration officers’ access and overrode their statutory authority over voter-roll additions and deletions.
Election Commission response
The Election Commission said its orders have legal sanction and follow established statutory procedures.
Officer’s role and institutional process
Congress allegations
Ramesh alleged that an officer who was the subject of commissioners’ complaints was later given oversight of the IT division, and accused the Commission of limiting transparency.
Election Commission response
The Election Commission said differing views and observations are normal in institutional deliberations; the reports provide no specific Commission response to the officer’s appointment.
Key facts
- Congress leader making allegations
- Jairam Ramesh, Congress general secretary
- Portal at issue
- ECINet voter-roll portal
- Access concern
- Ramesh said the Election Commission’s IT division restricted electoral registration officers’ access.
- Commissioners cited
- Sukhbir Singh Sandhu and Vivek Joshi
- Complaints and oversight
- Ramesh said complaints were made to the Cabinet secretary in July and the officer was given IT-division oversight from August.
- Election Commission response
- It said differing views are normal and its orders carry legal sanction and follow established statutory procedures.
Quotes
Election Commission
India’s national election administration body
“It appears that Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar and the prime minister himself have kept the particular officer in place to retain their centralised control over the entire system. The ‘Vote Chori’ operation is becoming clearer by the day.”
theprint.in
m.rediff.com
“The complaint reached the Department of Personnel and Training (DoPT), for which the minister responsible is the prime minister himself. So the prime minister is aware of all this, and it is likely taking place on his direction.”
theprint.in
m.rediff.com
telegraphindia.com
Sources
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