New Delhi, February 18 (HS): Leader of Opposition in Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi has said that in the meeting of the committee constituted to select the Election Commissioner on Monday, he had expressed disagreement with the selection process of the Chief Election Commissioner (CEC). Despite this, the way the CEC was selected at midnight is humiliating and rude.

Rahul Gandhi said in a statement today, During the meeting of the committee to select the next Election Commissioner, I had submitted a letter of dissent to the Prime Minister and the Home Minister. It was said that the most fundamental aspect of an independent Election Commission free from executive interference is the process of selecting the Election Commissioner and the Chief Election Commissioner. Despite this, by violating the order of the Supreme Court and removing the Chief Justice of India from the committee, the Modi government has further increased the concerns of crores of voters on the integrity of our electoral process.

Rahul said, As the leader of the opposition, it is my duty to uphold the ideals of Babasaheb Ambedkar and the founding leaders of our nation and hold the government accountable. It is humiliating and rude for the Prime Minister and Home Minister to decide at midnight to select a new Chief Election Commissioner while the composition and process of the committee is being challenged in the Supreme Court and it is to be heard in less than 48 hours.

Hindusthan Samachar / Jun Sarkar