Nishikant Dubey criticises Congress Supreme Court move over poll roll row

BJP MP Nishikant Dubey accused Rahul Gandhi and Congress of targeting the Constitution by moving the Supreme Court on electoral roll issues. He said the Chief Election Commissioner can be removed only through Parliament, sharpening the political clash over poll integrity.

In Short

• Dubey said constitutional offices cannot be challenged through courtroom agitations
• He insisted only Parliament can initiate an impeachment process against the CEC
• Congress and allied chief ministers were asked to resign over roll anomalies

BJP MP Nishikant Dubey on Monday criticised the Congress over its move to approach the Supreme Court, alleging that Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi was trying to undermine the Constitution. He said the removal of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar could happen only through an impeachment motion in Parliament and not through a protest at the court.

Dubey also challenged Gandhi to ask the chief ministers of Congress-ruled or allied states to resign if he believed there were anomalies in the electoral rolls prepared after the Special Intensive Revision. He named Kerala, Karnataka, Himachal Pradesh, Telangana, Tamil Nadu and Jharkhand, and said AAP chief Arvind Kejriwal should similarly ask Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann to step down.

Addressing the issue, Dubey said, "Have you ever heard, since 1947 until now, of people going to the Supreme Court to stage protests or agitations? Just as (former prime minister) Indira Gandhi set the Constitution aside to impose the Emergency, her grandson is now attempting to do the very same thing. He wants to impose Emergency, dismantle the Indian Constitution."

He said there were only two ways to remove a prime minister — defeat in an election or a no-confidence motion. On the Chief Election Commissioner, he said, "If the Chief Election Commissioner is to be removed, there is only one way -- bringing an impeachment motion in Parliament. After that the Chief Justice of India will hear the petition."

Dubey said no one went to the Supreme Court to stage a sit-in and took a swipe at Gandhi. "Have you ever seen anyone going to the Supreme Court like this? He is crazy. Actually, the opposition's leadership has collapsed. People like Abhijeet Dipke (of the CJP) and Sharjeel Imam (activist, in jail) have become their leaders. Rahul Gandhi is effectively competing with the likes of Sharjeel Imam and Abhijeet Dipke," he said.

He repeated that if Rahul Gandhi had the "courage", he should first ensure the resignation of the chief ministers of Kerala, Tamil Nadu, Jharkhand, Karnataka, Himachal Pradesh and Telangana, which are ruled by the Congress or its allies. He added that Kejriwal should let Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann resign.

Dubey also said, "What kind of cheap, absurd talk is this? If they win, everything is fine. If they lose, the Election Commission is bad. He is a Member of Parliament, just like us. He holds no status beyond that. He might be a big shot within his own party or household, but under the Constitution, his status is exactly the same as ours."

In sum, Dubey attacked the Congress and Rahul Gandhi over the Supreme Court move, argued that the Chief Election Commissioner could be removed only through Parliament, and challenged opposition parties to seek resignations in states they govern if they questioned the electoral rolls.

- Ends