The BJP on Saturday knocked on the doors of the Election Commission seeking to restrain the government from making any new key appointments during the election period and sought action against the Prime Minister Manmohan Singh’s Media Adviser for alleged violation of Mode Code of Conduct by listing achievements of the government in his media interaction.
A BJP delegation led by the party General Secretary J.P. Nadda handed over a memorandum to the Deputy Election Commissioner Sudhir Tripathi on the subject. In a separate petition it sought action against those responsible for the alleged deletion of one lakh voters in the Pune Lok Sabha constituency and said the deleted voters should be allowed to vote on another day.
"The government must be instructed that it doesn't make any appointment to important posts as it is in violation of the model code of conduct," Mr. Nadda said after submitting memorandum to the EC.
Claiming that the government is seeking to fill vacancies to the posts of teachers which have been pending since 2012, the memorandum demanded an immediate stop to appointment of teachers being made in Kendriya Vidayalayas across the country.
Separately, the Congress flayed the principle opposition party for attempting to ‘politicise’ armed forces. The Congress attack came after the BJP maintained that the government should not go ahead with key appointments in the Army.
In a sharp attack Union Minister of State Shashi Tharoor said, “Do not politicise the armed forces. They have kept themselves out of politics.... It is one of the great strengths of Indian democracy. It is a professional decision where BJP has no role. As far as I know there is no procedure to consult the opposition party before taking a decision.”
Mr. Tharoor also strongly justified the appointment of Naval Admiral R K Dhowan as new Navy chief saying the post was lying vacant for last three months.
Captain Praveen Davar, retired army officer and Congress functionary condemned the reported statement of Gen (Retd.) V K Singh, former COAS, on the appointment of the new Army chief.
“It is the prerogative of the Govt. to appoint a Service Chief and as has been the tradition the appointment is normally announced 2/3 months in advance. Gen. V.K. Singh has during the last couple of years done substantial damage to the institution of the Indian Army”.
