Narendra Modi questions EC`s impartiality, dares it to file another case against him

Asansol/Bankura: A combative Narendra Modi on Sunday took on the Election Commission, accusing it of not acting impartially in the wake of complaints of booth rigging in West Bengal, Bihar and western Uttar Pradesh and dared it to take action against him. "Why are you not acting? What is your intention? If you feel wrong about what I am saying now, then you are free to lodge another case against me," Modi told an election rally in Asansol. Modi`s attack on the EC came days after an FIR was lodged against him following a direction from the poll panel which said he had violated electoral laws by displaying his party symbol after casting his vote in Gandhinagar and addressed a press conference soon thereafter. The BJP Prime Ministerial candidate accused the EC of having failed to take appropriate action in dealing with complaints of poll violence and booth rigging in West Bengal, Bihar and western Uttar Pradesh. "It is your responsibility to ensure impartial polls. I am making very serious allegations against you," he said, adding, "You have failed to stop rigging and violence in these areas. False cases have been filed against our candidate Babul Supriyo. Election Commission`s work is to protect people. I request you to fulfil your responsibilities in the right way." He said that the poll watchdog has all the government machinery at its disposal and enjoys more powers than even the Prime Minister. "Democracy doesn`t work like this, I know that in the elections on 30th, how much rigging took place. Will this game go on?" he asked. Modi recalled that he had said in Uttar Pradesh also that in some areas problems are going to happen. "But Election Commission could do nothing. Today I am saying it again that in Bengal, Bihar and western Uttar Pradesh the same thing is going to happen. Is it not the responsiblity of the Election Commission that elections should be peaceful, there should be no rigging, no violence?," he said. In Bankura, Modi took a swipe at Mamata Banerjee over her dubbing him as a "paper tiger", saying a real tiger is one who jails those involved in the Sarada chit fund scam and gets back money of the poor.

Modi, however, said that Banerjee`s attack on him would not deter him in helping Bengal if BJP comes to power at the Centre and a strong BJP government would also ensure that the West Bengal Chief Minister does her job seriously.