New Delhi, Apr 09: The Congress today criticised Attorney General Soli Sorabjee's advice to the Centre that a ban on opinion and exit polls during elections would be against fundamental right of expression. Addressing a press conference here, Congress party spokesman Kapil Sibal said that the Election Commission under Article 324 of Constitution is empowered to promulgate a directive and is not dependent on the government. Sibal also criticized media reports, "The media is saying something which has no legal ground."
He said, "Free speech has become commercial free speech", as it allowed some "big people" to mint "crores of money". He was critical of Attorney General Soli Sorabjee’s point of view that pre-poll surveys and exit polls cannot be stopped.
Earlier, the Election Commission after an all-party meeting had asked the government to clarify its stand.
Bureau Report