Union minister Prahlad Joshi hits out at opposition over protest against CEC

NEW DELHI: Union minister Prahlad Joshi on Saturday hit out at the opposition over its protest against Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar amid the ongoing controversy surrounding the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls, saying there was no “concrete proof” to support the allegations being raised against the Election Commission.

Reacting to the opposition's claims, Joshi said the protest was an expression of the “pain” caused by its electoral defeat. He said the SIR issue was being used to voice that distress.

“The pain in their hearts caused by their defeat... they are trying to express that distress through the SIR issue,” Joshi said.

His remarks came in response to questions about a report published by The Indian Express, which cited concerns allegedly raised within the Election Commission over the SIR exercise. The report claimed that Election Commissioners Sukhbir Singh Sandhu and Vivek Joshi had raised 14 written dissents or objections over a 10-month period.

The reports led the opposition to seek action against CEC Gyanesh Kumar and demand a halt to the SIR, while the ECI said internal notes, queries and differences of view are part of its functioning and maintained that all final decisions on the exercise were unanimous.

Joshi said that even if the report was taken into consideration, it did not amount to conclusive evidence of wrongdoing.

“Whatever has appeared in The Indian Express... if you even believe that, I am not saying they have no right, but I am also saying that it is not concrete proof for that. It is not at all concrete proof,” he said.

Joshi also disputed the opposition's suggestion that decisions related to the SIR were taken unilaterally. Referring to the Election Commission's own press release, he said decisions of the poll panel had been unanimous.

“And whatever has been written in The Indian Express, even that never states that a unilateral decision was taken. All the decisions—all, I am not saying almost—all the decisions of the Election Commission have been taken unanimous,” Joshi said.

The Union minister, however, clarified that he was not speaking on behalf of the poll panel.

“I am not talking on behalf of the Election Commission, but I am speaking based on the press release issued by the Election Commission,” Joshi said.

The opposition has been protesting against CEC Gyanesh Kumar over the SIR exercise and has raised questions about the manner in which the electoral-roll revision is being conducted.