Lalan Singh Accuses Congress of Questioning the Credibility of Constitutional Institutions for Political Gain

New Delhi, October 13 (HS):Senior Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader and Union Minister Piyush Goyal has said that Congress leader Rahul Gandhi must produce evidence to substantiate his allegations concerning the impartiality of the Election Commission of India (ECI). Goyal also posed 10 questions to Gandhi in this regard. Meanwhile, Union Minister Rajiv Ranjan Singh, popularly known as Lalan Singh, criticised Rahul Gandhi and the Congress, asserting that the Constitution is supreme in the country and that no family stands above it. He accused the Congress of questioning the credibility of constitutional institutions for political gain.

Addressing a press conference at the BJP headquarters on Tuesday, in the presence of senior Janata Dal (United) leader and Union Minister Lalan Singh, Piyush Goyal criticised Rahul Gandhi’s approach to political issues. He said Gandhi’s conduct and statements over the past few days had reflected double standards. Goyal alleged that the Congress questioned the impartiality of the Election Commission but avoided scrutiny of its own political conduct and past record.

Goyal said that, previously, Election Commissioners were appointed by the government without consultation or discussion with any other stakeholder in the selection process. He claimed that the Narendra Modi-led government introduced a new law in 2023 to change the selection procedure and include the Leader of the Opposition.

According to Goyal, the Prime Minister and the Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha are now members of the selection committee involved in decisions concerning the appointment of Election Commissioners, including the Chief Election Commissioner. He maintained that the existing arrangement provides the Opposition with a role in the selection process.

Piyush Goyal said the Modi government had allowed the Election Commission to function independently. He also claimed that the government had not attempted to offer political positions to Election Commissioners in contravention of legal provisions.

Goyal said he wanted to put 10 questions to Rahul Gandhi and expected him to respond. He alleged that Gandhi accused others of stealing votes during elections and criticised the Election Commission but failed to file affidavits in support of his claims.

Goyal demanded that Rahul Gandhi produce documentary proof and other evidence to substantiate his allegations and formally affirm them under oath. He said that those who make serious allegations in public life must also accept responsibility for their statements.

Raising the issue of the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls, Goyal asked why Rahul Gandhi had not raised his concerns during the implementation of the exercise in Bihar if he considered the process to be such a serious problem.

He also questioned the Congress’s role during the SIR exercise in Tamil Nadu and West Bengal. Goyal asked what steps the party had taken in these states to file claims and objections concerning the inclusion or deletion of names from electoral rolls.

He challenged Rahul Gandhi to present facts in support of his allegations and respond to the questions raised about the Election Commission’s procedures.

Meanwhile, Union Minister Lalan Singh alleged that political demonstrations and public statements over the past several days had been aimed at creating an atmosphere of disorder in the country and undermining the credibility of constitutional institutions.

Lalan Singh accused the Congress of placing the interests of one family above those of the country and questioning constitutional institutions to advance its political interests.

He also questioned the Congress over demonstrations being held outside the Supreme Court. He said such protests by political parties outside the court naturally raised questions about the propriety of the practice.

He asked why a party or individual would stage protests outside the Supreme Court over a matter when a petition concerning the same issue had already been filed before the court.

Criticising the Congress’s protests and its political methods, Lalan Singh asserted that the people of the country would not accept such conduct towards constitutional institutions.

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Hindusthan Samachar / Jun Sarkar