Ex-babus express concern over attempts to 'discredit' Election Commission

A group of former civil servants led by former Delhi Police Commissioner R S Gupta wrote to President Ram Nath Kovind on Tuesday expressing concerns over alleged attempts being made by another group of retired babus, headed by Salahuddin Ahmad, retired IAS officer, to discredit the Election Commission by casting aspersions on its neutrality.

The letter, signed by 81 former civil servants, defence officers, judges, academicians and professionals headed by Gupta, said "slurs" are being levelled against the poll body and doubts are being raised on its ability to hold free and fair elections.

This letter was written in reaction to a missive written by a group of bureaucrats headed by Ahmad on April 8 accusing Election Commission of ignoring various violations of the Model Code of Conduct and illustrates how the EC took little action, if any, on most of the complaints that have been filed with it.

Ahmad and other babus have accused that EC should "conduct itself in a manner where its independence, fairness, impartiality and efficiency are not questioned and to firmly exercise the extensive mandate given to it under Article 324 of the Constitution of India to ensure that the Indian voter is able to exercise her/his franchise without fear or favour".

On Tuesday, the letter written babus headed by Gupta stated, "We have come to express concerns over attempts being made by certain groups to discredit the EC which has been time-tested and great credibility not just in India, but all across the world."

This, the letter added, gives rise to a suspicion that a deliberate attempt is being made by groups with "vested interests" to denigrate such institutions of democracy by undermining their position.

"This appears to be part of a larger design to influence its decision-making and to make it conform to a particular line of behaviour and thought," the letter said.

Referring to the objections raised by the group on Prime Minister Narendra Modi's biopic, the letter said, "The very people who have cast aspersions on the independence of the Election Commission have appeared to have succeeded in influencing the decision of the poll body in banning the biopic made by an independent producer. It may be noted that the decision was delivered only after release of the open letter by the group of (former) civil servants."

Last week, the Election Commission banned the release of the biopic, titled "PM Narendra Modi", until its further orders.

The letter also pointed out that the said group is trying to stop a 10-part web series 'Modi-A Common Man's Journey', five episodes of which have already been screened before the model code of conduct came into effect.

Blame game

• Ahmad and other babus have accused that EC should “conduct itself in a manner where its independence, fairness, impartiality and efficiency are not questioned. 
• Former cop RS Gupta in his letter said said “slurs” are being levelled against the poll body and doubts are being raised