Charging the Narendra Modi government with misusing government funds for political gains in the Bihar elections in violation of the model code of conduct, the Congress and the Janata Dal (United) on Monday demanded strict action against the BJP.
Addressing a joint press conference here, AICC media in-charge Randeep Surjewala, AICC general secretary C.P. Joshi, JD(U) general secretary K.C. Tyagi, JD(U) leader Pawan Varma, Bihar Congress leader Manoj Jha and eminent lawyer K.T.S. Tulsi alleged that the BJP government had given concessions to special trains run by the Railway Ministry which allegedly took BJP workers from Bihar on paid trips to four BJP-ruled States.
Mr. Tyagi said, “A serious matter of violation of the Election Commission’s Model Code of Conduct by the Railway Ministry and the Centre, in collusion with the BJP, has come to light. In blatant violation of the model code of conduct, four trains were booked on September 7, 9, 11 and 13 respectively, to ferry BJP volunteers to various capitals of BJP-ruled States. Further, the Railway Ministry has granted 60 per cent concession in the cost of booking of the four trains from Patna to various capitals of BJP-ruled States. This matter involves an open misuse of government machinery to facilitate the BJP election campaign in Bihar and amounts to bribing voters through the illegal support of the Railway Ministry.
“The Congress, the JD(U) and the RJD are deeply concerned that such grossly illegal and coercive activities involving the BJP and the Centre using public money and in total violation of the EC’s guidelines and model code of conduct, completely take away from the EC’s professed goal of creating a level-playing field for all political parties,” he said.
“We demand that the Railway Ministry immediately cancel these trains, withdraw the concession so given and constitute an inquiry into the collusion of officials, who were obviously working under the Modi government dictates, in granting the illegal concession. We also demand that the EC initiate proceedings against the BJP and get an FIR registered under the relevant provisions of the IPC and the Representation of the People Act,” Mr. Surjewala and Mr. Tyagi said.
Mr. Tyagi said a memorandum listing the ‘evidence’ against the BJP was presented to the Election Commission on Monday.
