On cash transfer scheme, EC seeks Cab Sec’s reply
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Unhappy over cash transfer scheme, EC seeks Cab Sec’s reply
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The EC on Sunday also warned of appropriate action if the government’s reply to its letter does not come by then.
In a strongly-worded letter to Cabinet Secretary Ajit Seth, the EC
expressed its unhappiness over the timing of the announcement by the
Government and said it could have been avoided in view of the Gujarat
Assembly elections later this month.
“We have asked the Cabinet Secretary to give us a factual report on
the issue by Monday evening and if we do not get a reply we will
proceed with action,” a top official of the Election Commission said.
Incidentally, four of the 51 districts in which the cash transfer scheme is to be implemented from 1st January next fall inGujarat.
Sources said the EC’s fresh letter to the Cabinet Secretary was the second reminder in the matter.
The Gujarat unit of BJP had on Thursday petitioned the poll body in
this case, alleging a serious violation of the Model Code of Conduct.
A day later, top party leaders led by L K Advani had personally met
the Chief Election Commissioner to complain against the announcement.
The government had in a major announcement claimed the scheme as a
game-changer, with Finance Minister P Chidamabaram and Rural Development
Minister Jairam Ramesh personally launching the scheme from the
Congress headquarters in New Delhi.
After complaining to the EC, Advani had said that such
announcements should not be made by a government once election dates
have been declared.
“There has been announcement of direct cash transfer… The states
where elections are due should have been excluded. They (government)
could not have done it under the (election) code of conduct,” Advani had
said.
Gujarat goes to polls in two phases on 13th and 17thDecember and the Model Code is in force in the state.
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