EC should have ordered probe instead of using offensive language against Rahul: Ex-CEC Quraishi
New Delhi, Sep 14 (PTI): Coming down hard on the Election Commission for its response on "vote theft" allegations, former chief election commissioner S Y Quraishi on Sunday said the poll body should have ordered a probe into Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi's charges instead of "shouting" at him in a language that was "objectionable and offensive".
In an interview with PTI, Quraishi said much of the terms used by Gandhi while making the allegations such as likening them to a "hydrogen bomb" were "political rhetoric" but asserted that the complaints which he was raising need to be investigated in detail.
The former chief election commissioner slammed the Election Commission (EC) over the manner in which it carried out the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls in Bihar, and said it is not only "opening a pandora's box" but the poll body has put its hand in the "hornet's nest" which will hurt it.
The EC has rejected all the allegations of "vote theft" in the past. It has also all along maintained that the SIR of electoral rolls in Bihar will cleanse the voters' list of ineligible people, duplicate entries and include those eligible as per law to vote.
"You know when I hear any criticism of the EC, I feel very concerned and very hurt not only as a citizen of India but also because having been the CEC myself, I have also laid a brick or two in that institution," Quraishi told PTI ahead of the launch of his new book 'Democracy's Heartland' published by Juggernaut Books.
"When I see that institution under attack or weakened in any way I feel concerned and the EC itself has to do introspection and has to feel concerned. It is up to them to stand up to all the forces and the pressures that may be influencing their decisions," said Quraishi, who was the Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) between July 30, 2010 and June 10, 2012.
"They have to win the confidence of the people - you need the confidence of the opposition parties. For me, I always gave preference to the opposition parties because they are the underdogs," he said.
Quraishi opined that the party in power doesn't need as much pampering as the opposition does because the latter is out of power.
"So the instruction generally to my staff (when I was the CEC) was to throw the doors open, if they (opposition) want an appointment, give them immediately, listen to them, talk to them, if they want some small favour, do it if it is not at the cost of somebody else," he said.
Here the opposition has to go to the Supreme Court every now and then and in fact, 23 parties have had to say they are not getting an appointment and nobody is listening to them.
Specifically responding to Quraishi's remarks calling for giving opposition parties a hearing whenever they ask for it, an EC functionary said, "We are holding regular meetings with the political parties.I think at no other time this has been in such a structured manner."
Quraishi argued that the EC should have called for a probe into Gandhi's allegations instead of asking him to submit an affidavit.
"Rahul Gandhi is the Leader of Opposition (LoP) after all, don't shout at him the way the EC did. I think it is not like the EC that we have known. He is after all the LoP, he is not a man on the street. He is representing millions of people, he is voicing the opinion of millions of people and to say to him, 'give an affidavit otherwise we will do this and do that', the body language and the language used is both objectionable and offensive," Quraishi said.
"I have often said, suppose they (opposition) also turn around and say that 'ok you are coming up with a new roll, give an affidavit that it is mistake free. And if there is a mistake you will be held criminally liable'. Can you think of that situation?" he said.
Asserting that the EC should have ordered a probe into the allegations, Quraishi said not just the LoP but if anybody had complained, the normal practice was to immediately order a probe.
"Not only we (EC) have to be fair but we have to appear to be fair. The probe brings out the facts. So instead of the way the EC responded, the probe was the right thing to do and they missed an opportunity," he said.
His remarks come after Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar said at a press conference here last month that Gandhi should either give a declaration under oath within seven days on his allegations of irregularities in the voters list, else his 'vote theft' claims would be rendered baseless and invalid.
Levelling allegations of "vote chori", Gandhi had, through a presentation at a press conference, cited data from the 2024 Lok Sabha polls to claim that over 1 lakh votes were "stolen" in Mahadevapura assembly segment in Karnataka through five types of manipulation. He alleged similar irregularities in other states.
Gandhi also carried out a 'Voter Adhikar Yatra' across Bihar against the SIR of electoral rolls, alleging collusion between the BJP and the EC for "stealing votes".
Asked about Gandhi's claim that he will soon come up with a "hydrogen bomb" of revelations on "vote chori", Quraishi said the Leader of the Opposition has used these kinds of terms and most of it is "political rhetoric" which has to be taken as such only.
"But at the same time, if there are serious issues, serious complaints which he is raising, they need to be investigated in detail not only to the satisfaction of the LoP but of the whole nation, the whole nation is watching," he said.
On whether the people's confidence on the electoral process had been shaken, Quraishi answered in the affirmative.
Questioning the logic behind excluding Electors Photo Identity Card (EPIC) from the list of documents that could be provided for inclusion in the voters list, Quraishi said EPIC is issued by the EC itself and not recognising it has very serious implications.
"Remember it has taken the EC 30 years to reach 99 per cent or 98 per cent of the people, to bring the electoral roll to this level of perfection. One per cent is updated every year by door-to-door summary inquiry' - That is the normal thing. So to throw the existing roll in the dustbin and to start all over again. You are trying to do in three months what we had done in 30 years," Quraishi said.
"So, it is buying trouble. It is not only opening a pandora's box but I think the EC has put its hand in the hornet's nest and it is going to hurt them. Of course the Supreme Court has already asked to use Aadhaar and because of the pressure of the top court, the EC has started using Aadhaar," he said.
Quraishi said he is surprised the Supreme Court did not follow up on EPIC which is the EC's own creation.
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Karnataka rolls out climate action plan to tackle global warming: Minister Khandre
Bengaluru (PTI): Minister Eshwar Khandre on Tuesday said that a Karnataka state action plan on climate change has been formulated to mitigate the impact of global warming and climate change, and directions have been issued to ensure its proper implementation.
Speaking after presiding over a seminar on extreme heat and its impact on Bengaluru, organised by the Karnataka Media Academy, he said the Environmental Management and Policy Research Institute (EMPRI), which comes under the environment department, has taken steps to implement the action plan in coordination with various state government departments.
He said training programmes are being organised in cooperation with zilla panchayat offices for district officials and other related institutions regarding the implementation and progress of the Karnataka state action plan on climate change.
The Forest, Ecology and Environment minister said such programmes will be conducted in all 31 districts of Karnataka.
According to a statement issued by the minister’s office, in terms of climate resilience, Khandre said a dedicated radio programme, “Havamaana Mitra” (weather friend), was launched in April 2025 to share information on best practices, and 24 programmes have so far been broadcast on Akashvani.
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He said these efforts aim to create public awareness.
Khandre emphasised that due to global warming and climate change, even seasons are changing today.
“Keeping this in mind, after becoming Forest Minister, I have been making every effort to increase green cover, especially in Bengaluru city,” he said.
He noted that during the last three years, about 11 crore saplings have been planted in the state, and information on their survival rate has been made available on the Forest Department website.
According to him, encroachments on about 250 acres of forest land worth around Rs 10,000 crore in several parts of Bengaluru, including Kothanur, Kadugodi, B M Kaval, and Turahalli, have been cleared.
Thousands of saplings have been planted and groves created on the cleared land, thereby preserving lung spaces essential for Bengaluru city.
The minister also recalled that more than 400 acres of forest land in Peenya plantation had earlier been allotted to the central government-owned HMT for industrial purposes.
He said HMT had sold 160 acres of this land, while 280 acres remain, and a decision has been taken to reclaim it for the department to preserve an essential lung space for Bengaluru. A legal battle is underway, and the case is currently in the Supreme Court.
In addition, he said 444 acres in the Jarakabande area had been allotted to the Indian Air Force. Under the Forest (Conservation) Act, 1980, forest land cannot be diverted without due process. Hence, in 2017, the then Deputy Commissioner cancelled the land allotment.
“Steps are now being taken to reclaim this forest land and preserve the green space,” he said.
Khandre also highlighted that the Yelahanka Air Force Station in Gantiganahalli, where the international air show is held once every two years in Bengaluru, is on forest land.
He said 159 acres in Gantiganahalli village is classified as a reserved forest area.
“If the Air Force submits a proposal for diversion and provides alternative land, this area may be considered for transfer; otherwise, steps will be taken to reclaim it for the forest department,” he said.
“The Indian Air Force is presently using this area as a runway. However, the RTC and mutation records are in the name of the Forest Department, and the land has not been legally converted. Hence, this forest land will be reclaimed,” he said.
He added that the government has resolved to construct a major biological park on 153 acres at Madappanahalli in Bengaluru North taluk, and cabinet approval has been obtained.
“The CM will lay the foundation stone next month. This will be the largest park after Lalbagh and Cubbon Park. It would not be incorrect to call this an achievement of the century,” he said.
