Govt defending the institution of EC: Rijiju slams Opposition's Emergency claim

Kiren Rijiju rejects the Opposition's Emergency comparison over Delhi's protest crackdown and explains why the government is defending the Election Commission as a constitutional institution amid allegations of electoral bias.Rijiju rejects the Opposition’s Emergency comparison over the security crackdown in DelhiUnion Minister Kiren Rijiju has defended the government’s backing of the Election Commission of India, saying it is defending the constitutional institution and not merely the people occupying its offices, while rejecting the Opposition’s comparison of the security crackdown in Delhi with the Emergency.“We are not defending the people sitting in the Election Commission alone. We are defending the institution,” Rijiju said at the India Today Conclave, arguing that the government has a responsibility to defend constitutional authorities, including the Election Commission and the Supreme Court, against what he described as attacks.His remarks came amid Opposition criticism of the extensive security arrangements and preventive detentions ahead of the protest in Delhi against the removal of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar over alleged electoral roll discrepancies.Rejecting the charge that the national capital was under an Emergency-like situation, Rijiju said police action was governed by rules and procedures, and accused protesters of disregarding the rule of law. “India is a free country. You can speak whatever you want, but don't diminish the democratic values by calling or saying every time there is an emergency,” he said.The minister also defended the restrictions imposed in Delhi, arguing that the government had to balance the right to protest with the safety and rights of ordinary citizens. “If you talk about your democratic rights, that doesn't give you permission or a right to take away others' rights,” he said, adding that the government would not allow public institutions to be occupied or the city to be disrupted through street protests.‘WE ARE DEFENDING THE INSTITUTION’Responding to questions about the government’s strong defence of CEC Kumar and the Election Commission amid allegations of bias, Rijiju said the issue went beyond the individuals holding constitutional posts.“If you target the constitutional authorities, if you target the Supreme Court, if you target the Election Commission, what is the role you expect from the government?” he asked.Rijiju said the government had a duty to defend constitutional authorities and argued that the Election Commission and the Supreme Court were separate organs of the state. He maintained that criticism of those institutions should not become an excuse to undermine their credibility.He also rejected the suggestion that the Election Commission should engage in a running public debate with political parties over allegations against it. Such exchanges, he said, could diminish the stature of an independent constitutional body.“I don't think there should be any kind of a duel with any political parties. Election Commission is an independent constitutional body,” he said.Rijiju added that Opposition parties were free to approach the Election Commission with their grievances and seek legal recourse, including moving the Supreme Court, if they believed rules had been violated.RIJIJU REJECTS ‘EMERGENCY IN DELHI’ COMPARISONRijiju dismissed claims that the security restrictions in Delhi amounted to an Emergency, saying the comparison was misplaced and that those making it should look back at the Emergency imposed in 1975.The minister said police action, including preventive detention, was governed by established rules and manuals, and that ministers did not determine how the police should act in individual situations.His response followed questions about the scale of the security measures in the capital. During the interview, the interviewer cited figures of 56 metro stations being shut, 53 trains being cancelled or diverted, 33,000 security personnel deployed and a six-kilometre radius of central Delhi being cordoned off. These figures were cited by the interviewer during the exchange.Rijiju said the government’s responsibility was not limited to permitting demonstrations but also included protecting the safety and interests of the public.“The responsibility of the government and the agencies is not only to allow people to protest but safeguard the safety, security and interest of the general citizens,” he said.He accused the protesters of attempting to impose their demands through street demonstrations and said the government would not allow public institutions to be occupied. He also defended the conduct of the police and central armed forces, claiming they had shown restraint in handling demonstrators.“Very humanely our police personnel are handling the protesters. What else you want?” he said.‘DON’T TRUST RAHUL GANDHI THAT MUCH’Rijiju also hit back at Congress leader Rahul Gandhi over allegations of vote theft and claims that democratic institutions had been undermined.“Don't trust Rahul Gandhi ji that much,” he said, arguing that the Opposition had repeatedly questioned the BJP’s electoral victories, including after the 2014 and 2019 general elections.He said the Opposition had continued to make allegations even after the BJP’s reduced tally in the 2024 Lok Sabha election, in which the party won 240 seats.Rijiju argued that electoral victories by Opposition parties in several states were inconsistent with claims that the Election Commission was systematically working in the BJP’s favour. He said dissent was part of democracy but accused political opponents of creating what he called a false narrative about the electoral process.The minister also defended the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls, rejecting allegations that it was designed to remove Muslims or voters opposed to the BJP.He said electoral rolls needed to be updated to remove names of people who had died, shifted or registered more than once. Rijiju also argued that voters who believed their names had been wrongly removed could use the claims and objections process to seek inclusion.“If any genuine Indian is deleted from the voter list, there is a provision for claims and objections,” he said, referring to Form 6 as part of the process.RIJIJU SAYS OPPOSITION CAN APPROACH COURTSRijiju said the Election Commission had issued clarifications in response to questions in the past, but argued that it should not be expected to respond to every political allegation through daily public exchanges.He said Opposition parties could approach the poll body if they believed it had violated rules or conventions, and could move the courts if they were dissatisfied with its response.The minister also defended the government’s record, saying it would not do anything unethical, illegal or unconstitutional.His comments come amid a wider political confrontation over the Election Commission, the SIR exercise and the handling of protests against Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar. The Opposition has raised concerns about electoral fairness and restrictions on dissent, while the government has defended the poll body and the police action as necessary to uphold the rule of law.- Ends