Thiruvananthapuram, Oct 7 (UNI) Kerala Home Minister Ramesh Chennithala has termed the arrest and forcible removal of Congress leaders Rahul Gandhi and Priyanka Gandhi Vadra, who sought to meet the Election Commission, as a serious challenge to democracy. Chennithala said the Election Commission's refusal to meet the Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha and other MPs was "defiant" and amounted to a challenge to the people of India.
He alleged that the actions of the Central Election Commission, which is constitutionally entrusted with ensuring free and fair elections, had become questionable and raised serious doubts about its credibility. The situation had reached a point where two other Election Commissioners had publicly questioned the actions of the Chief Election Commissioner, further undermining the credibility of what he described as a major constitutional institution, Chennithala said.
He said Rahul Gandhi had sought a meeting with the Chief Election Commissioner to urge him not to undermine the electoral process in the country. "The refusal of the Election Commission to meet the Leader of the Opposition and MPs questions even the spirit of the Constitution," he said.
Chennithala alleged that Rahul Gandhi and the Congress were leading a major democratic struggle by mobilising people against what he described as moves by the Narendra Modi government to undermine Indian democracy. "The Narendra Modi government should not harbour any illusion that this struggle can be silenced through arrests or the use of force," he said.
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