Srinagar: The Jammu and Kashmir National Conference (NC) on Friday demanded the resignation of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar, alleging that recent developments had undermined the credibility of the Election Commission of India (ECI).
The party also condemned reported detentions ahead of a protest scheduled in New Delhi on October 10 against the poll body, alleging that restrictions were being imposed to prevent people from exercising their constitutional right to peaceful assembly.
NC Additional General Secretary and Rajya Sabha MP Choudhary Mohammad Ramzan criticised the reported police announcements in mosques discouraging participation in the protest, restrictions on transport services and security measures in the national capital.
He alleged that such actions were contrary to democratic principles and constitutional freedoms, arguing that the right to peaceful protest was guaranteed to every citizen.
Questioning the conduct of the ECI, Ramzan claimed that 9.7 million voters had been excluded from electoral rolls in West Bengal ahead of the elections, alleging that the deletions had contributed to the defeat of the Trinamool Congress despite pre-election assessments indicating a likely victory for the party.
He further claimed that around 170 million voter names had been removed from electoral rolls across the country over several years, describing the figures as a serious concern for electoral participation.
Ramzan said the Election Commission had a responsibility to ensure that all eligible citizens who had attained the age of 18 were registered as voters. He alleged that the removal of names from electoral rolls without adequate safeguards undermined public confidence in the electoral process.
Referring to questions surrounding the poll body’s actions and proceedings before the Supreme Court, the NC leader said the developments warranted serious scrutiny. He also raised concerns over the use of the court’s name in connection with permission for Form 6, which is used for applying for inclusion in electoral rolls.
Ramzan said the circumstances called for Gyanesh Kumar to step down, alleging that the credibility of the institution responsible for safeguarding electoral integrity had been severely damaged.
He also criticised reported restrictions on protests by opposition MPs and other political leaders in recent days, saying that the treatment of elected representatives raised concerns about the space available for peaceful dissent.
“If elected representatives of the people are being subjected to such treatment, the plight of ordinary citizens can only be imagined,” he said.
The allegations concerning voter deletions, the conduct of the Election Commission and restrictions ahead of the Delhi protest were raised by the NC leader in his statement.