New Delhi: Congress MP Gaurav Gogoi on Thursday launched a scathing attack on Prime Minister Narendra Modi, lambasting his foreign visit during an ongoing Parliament session and accusing him of shirking crucial debates on national concerns, particularly the impartiality of the Election Commission.
Speaking to reporters outside Parliament, Gogoi asserted that the entire nation was deeply concerned about the fairness of the Election Commission and the sanctity of the right to vote. He questioned the Prime Minister’s decision to be on a foreign tour precisely when Parliament was in session and critical discussions were needed, highlighting what he termed as the Prime Minister’s insensitivity to the matter.
Gogoi did not mince words, directly accusing the Prime Minister of a blatant disregard for democratic accountability. He underscored that the ongoing politicisation of the Election Commission was not just a partisan issue but a matter of grave national concern.
Drawing parallels to his home state, Gogoi alleged that the current situation was a replay of events witnessed in Assam two and a half years ago. He claimed that the delimitation exercise in the state was orchestrated specifically to benefit the Bharatiya Janata Party in both Lok Sabha and assembly elections.
The Jorhat MP has consistently raised concerns about what he perceives as calculated attempts to undermine electoral fairness, with the redrawing of constituency boundaries in Assam being a prime example, according to him, designed to afford an electoral edge to the ruling BJP.
His remarks come amidst a backdrop of renewed opposition protests and walkouts within Parliament, with demands for greater transparency and accountability on a range of issues, from electoral reforms to recent allegations questioning the autonomy of constitutional bodies.
At the time of filing this report, there has been no official statement from the Prime Minister’s Office in response to Gogoi’s strong condemnation.