Defending Democracy's Watchdog: Rijiju Slams Opposition Over EC Attacks

Union Minister Kiren Rijiju has truly pulled no punches, delivering a rather sharp rebuke to opposition parties. He’s pretty much slammed them for what he views as utterly "wild allegations" and "unfounded accusations" directed at the Election Commission of India (ECI), especially concerning the ongoing revision of electoral rolls. You know, it seems he's had enough of the constant criticism, particularly when it comes to such a vital institution.

Rijiju, making his position crystal clear, stressed the absolute independence of the Election Commission. He underlined that the EC isn't just another government department; it's a constitutional body, a cornerstone, really, of our democratic process. For him, questioning its integrity without solid, undeniable evidence isn't just political banter; it’s something far more serious. It actually undermines the very foundation of India's democracy – a risky game to play, wouldn't you say?

The Minister highlighted that this revision of electoral rolls isn't some clandestine operation or a new, suspicious development. On the contrary, it's a perfectly routine, annual exercise. It happens every single year, like clockwork, designed to keep our voter lists accurate and up-to-date. So, for the opposition to suddenly cry foul over a standard procedure, well, Rijiju finds it perplexing, to say the least.

In a rather pointed retort, he also brought up what he sees as a worrying pattern: a perceived hypocrisy from these opposition parties. He pointed out, quite directly, that there have been times in the past when the very same parties were quick to praise the Election Commission – usually, of course, when election outcomes swung in their favour. But now, it appears, when things might not align with their political narratives, they're all too eager to launch scathing, often "baseless" attacks. One might even say it's a bit of a convenient memory lapse, isn't it?

Rijiju's core message is a plea for responsibility, really. He believes that relentlessly challenging the credibility of the Election Commission, especially without substantive proof, does a grave disservice to our democratic ethos. It plants seeds of doubt where there shouldn't be any and, ultimately, chips away at public trust in the institutions that uphold free and fair elections. And that, my friends, is something we should all probably be quite concerned about.