AAP attack on EC highlights its anarchist face, says BJP

Tribune News Service

New Delhi, March 23

A day after the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) questioned the State Election Commission’s directive to remove displays containing “aam aadmi”, Leader of Opposition Vijender Gupta today shot back at the Kejriwal-led party claiming the AAP opposes any decision that does not suit its political interests and its attack on the State Election Commission (SEC) highlights its “fascist and anarchist” face.

Pointing out that the SEC’s move is not “unconstitutional”, he said that the AAP has mischievously accused some of its official of having catered to the “diktats” of another political party, in a veiled reference to the BJP.

Gupta claimed that the AAP does not have faith in constitutional authorities while noting that whenever a constitutional authority takes any action which is contrary to its political interests, it leaves no time in accusing it of dishonesty and political conspiracy.

He said that the AAP’s response to the orders of the SEC to drop phrase “aam aadmi” from its Mohalla Clinics and Express Bus Service is on its well-known line of questioning the constitutional authorities themselves. It has on many occasions questioned the office of LG of Delhi itself.

According to Gupta, the decision of the SEC is based on sound policy contained in the Model Code of Conduct as in the case of the Election Commission of India directing the Uttar Pradesh government in recent elections to remove the phrase “Samajwadi” from its 1,488 ambulance vehicles and earlier the BSP government to cover the statues of elephants as it was election symbol of the then party in power.

“The order of the SEC to remove the word “aam aadmi” and photographs of AAP leaders is in keeping with laid down principle of providing level field to all political parties in elections,” Gupta added.