New Delhi:
Union ministers Kapil Sibal and Salman Khurshid have denied reports that a Group of Minsters (GoM) on corruption is manoeuvering to curb the powers of the Election Commission.
Mr Sibal, who is part of that GoM, was reacting to reports that a proposal to give model code of conduct during elections a statutory backing is in the making. If enacted, this would, in effect, mean that code violation complaints would be out of the poll panel's purview and would be dealt with by a court.
Mr Sibal's cabinet colleague and Law Minister Salman Khurshid has also rubbished the reports. "To my knowledge, there is no such thing on the agenda. As far as I understand, it was agreed that once the elections are over, there will be an all-party consultation on the issue about electoral reforms which are being pushed by the EC," Mr Khurshid told reporters.
"I can't talk about what is on the agenda of the poll reform meeting as we will come to know it once we get closer to that meeting. If the matter is raised by any political party or any leader, then we will take it as and when during the course of meeting," he said, adding that he was "a little bit surprised what corruption has to do with the code of conduct. The code of conduct is about a larger area of election procedures and processes. Maybe, it has some connection with governance or corruption but there is no core link with corruption."
Congress leader Digvijaya Singh too reiterated the senior party leaders' stand. "The Congress has no intention of watering down the rights of the Election Commission. We want it to be strong and stronger," he added.
Meanwhile, the Bharatiya Janata Party slammed the Centre over reports that it is trying to curb the powers of the EC. "It is incorrect to say that the model code of conduct is not binding. It is non-statutory but making it is within the constitutional power of the Election Commission," senior BJP leader Arun Jaitley said.
The Group of Ministers on corruption is scheduled to meet tomorrow.
The remarks came on a day when the Congress said it has decided to move court against an FIR filed against Rahul Gandhi for alleged model code violation in Uttar Pradesh.
(With agency inputs)