New Delhi: Congress MP Gaurav Gogoi on Thursday accused the Centre of deliberately avoiding a parliamentary debate on the functioning of the Election Commission (EC), alleging that the government is hiding behind "myths and propaganda" to escape scrutiny of the electoral process.
Citing precedents from 1981, 1995 and 2005, Gogoi argued that such discussions have taken place in the past, contrary to the government's recent claims. He asserted that the refusal to allow debate reflects the government's discomfort and fear of transparency in electoral reforms.
Speaking to reporters, Gogoi said, "From the past few weeks, many ministers from this government have cited that there is no ministry responsible for discussing matters related to the Election Commission and the electoral process. They have cited past rulings to say that the Election Commission and the electoral process has never been debated. Today we are bursting those lies... In the Lok Sabha, we have discussed the electoral process and reforms in 2005 under a short-duration discussion. In 1995, regarding the postponement of elections in Bihar, there was a short-duration discussion in the Lok Sabha."
"In 1981, there was a short-duration discussion regarding the absence of time-bound provisions for completing by-elections to Parliament... Clearly, it shows that this government is scared of something, and that is why they are hiding behind a curtain of lies, myths, and propaganda... They should immediately allow a discussion of the electoral process in the Lok Sabha and the Rajya Sabha," he added.
Earlier in the day, the INDIA bloc parties continued their protest in Parliament against the Election Commission's (EC) voter list revision drive in Bihar.
Congress Parliamentary Party Chairperson Sonia Gandhi and Leader of Opposition in Rajya Sabha Mallikarjun Kharge, along with other Opposition MPs, joined the protest against the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) and the "arrest of labourers in BJP-ruled states" outside Parliament.
The Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls in Bihar has sparked a political row, with the opposition INDIA bloc alleging that the revision process could lead to the deletion of a large number of voters. They have been protesting in the Parliament, demanding a discussion over the Bihar SIR, since the start of this year's Monsoon Session.
On Friday, Union Minister Kiren Rijiju clarified that the government is ready to hold discussions on any issue as per rules, but there cannot be a discussion on the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) as it is a process undertaken by a constitutional body, the Election Commission of India.
"I want to clarify that the government is ready to hold discussions on any issue as per the rules. There cannot be a discussion on SIR because it is a process undertaken by a Constitutional body, and it is not happening for the first time..." Rijiju told ANI.
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