NEW DELHI: A BJP delegation led by finance minister Nirmala Sitharaman on Sunday called on the Election Commission (EC) and urged it to take measures to ensure smooth counting of votes on Tuesday and also to take action against those involved in “systematic attempts” to undermine the electoral process. It said that opposition parties have also targeted the media.
“This selective outrage and manipulation of media narratives are aimed at lowering the image of PM Modi internationally and painting a picture of victimhood,” it said.
Thwart systematic bid to hit poll process: BJP
BJP has escalated its response to Congress’s repeated questioning the election process and has asked the poll panel to take action against “those involved in systematic attempts to undermine the electoral process”.
“We wish to draw your urgent attention to the grave and coordinated attempts by opposition parties, led by the Indian National Congress (INC), and certain motivated civil society groups to undermine the integrity of the ongoing electoral process. These efforts directly attack our democratic institutions and pose significant risks to public order and trust in the electoral system,” a BJP delegation comprising Union ministers Nirmala Sitharaman and Piyush Goyal urged EC.
BJP called on the EC on a day in which Congress leader Jairam Ramesh was asked to explain his allegation that home minister Amit Shah had spoken to over 150 district magistrates ahead of the counting and also to express concern about reports of violence in West Bengal where BJP leaders have demanded an extra vigil during counting as they expect state machinery might try to disturb and disrupt the counting process.
“Today a delegation of BJP met with the Chief Election Commissioner to urge them to take some important steps. We have requested the EC that every official engaged in the counting process be fully conversant with the minutest details of the prescribed process and engage diligently with all EC protocols; ensure safety and security of the electoral process during the counting and announcement of results; take cognisance of systematic attempts to undermine the electoral process and take stringent action against those responsible,” Goyal said.
BJP said opposition parties have also targeted the media, spreading false narratives to discredit the electoral process. “They have consistently criticised the media and the ECI whenever results do not favour them, while conveniently ignoring the same process when they win state elections in Delhi, West Bengal, Karnataka and Telangana. This selective outrage and manipulation of media narratives are aimed at lowering the image of Prime Minister Modi internationally and painting a picture of victimhood,” it said.
“This selective outrage and manipulation of media narratives are aimed at lowering the image of PM Modi internationally and painting a picture of victimhood,” it said.
Thwart systematic bid to hit poll process: BJP
BJP has escalated its response to Congress’s repeated questioning the election process and has asked the poll panel to take action against “those involved in systematic attempts to undermine the electoral process”.
“We wish to draw your urgent attention to the grave and coordinated attempts by opposition parties, led by the Indian National Congress (INC), and certain motivated civil society groups to undermine the integrity of the ongoing electoral process. These efforts directly attack our democratic institutions and pose significant risks to public order and trust in the electoral system,” a BJP delegation comprising Union ministers Nirmala Sitharaman and Piyush Goyal urged EC.
BJP called on the EC on a day in which Congress leader Jairam Ramesh was asked to explain his allegation that home minister Amit Shah had spoken to over 150 district magistrates ahead of the counting and also to express concern about reports of violence in West Bengal where BJP leaders have demanded an extra vigil during counting as they expect state machinery might try to disturb and disrupt the counting process.
“Today a delegation of BJP met with the Chief Election Commissioner to urge them to take some important steps. We have requested the EC that every official engaged in the counting process be fully conversant with the minutest details of the prescribed process and engage diligently with all EC protocols; ensure safety and security of the electoral process during the counting and announcement of results; take cognisance of systematic attempts to undermine the electoral process and take stringent action against those responsible,” Goyal said.
BJP said opposition parties have also targeted the media, spreading false narratives to discredit the electoral process. “They have consistently criticised the media and the ECI whenever results do not favour them, while conveniently ignoring the same process when they win state elections in Delhi, West Bengal, Karnataka and Telangana. This selective outrage and manipulation of media narratives are aimed at lowering the image of Prime Minister Modi internationally and painting a picture of victimhood,” it said.
