A group of retired bureaucrats, defence officers and senior lawyers has written to the President of India countering the allegations raised on the credibility of the Election Commission of India.

This group of 81 signatories led by retired Indian Police Officer, R S Gupta said, “We have come together to express our concern over attempts being made by certain groups to discredit the Election Commission of India which has been time tested, and has great credibility.”

“This gives rise to suspicion that a deliberate attempt is being made by groups with vested interests to denigrate such institutions of democracy by undermining their position,” the representation of the President said.

Last week, there were two groups that made representations to the President alleging that the Election Commission has been ‘weak-kneed’ when acting upon alleged misconduct. One group was of retired civil servants while the other was of retired military veterans.

The representations made last week said that the EC should act against Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath for referring to the Indian army as Modi’s army. The representation from the group of civil servants also sought action against PM Modi by the EC for trying to aggravate communal tensions.

Countering the allegations

The latest letter from the group led by Gupta countered these allegations and said, “The very people who have cast aspersions on the independence of the Election Commission appear to have succeeded in influencing the decision of the commission, in banning a biopic made by an independent producer. It may be noted that the decision by the EC was delivered only after the release of the open letter by this group of civil servants.”

“It amounts to a smear campaign, designed to weaken India’s well tested constitutional bodies,” the letter added.

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