Cong, AAP ask EC to restrict surveys; BJP not amused

Latching on to allegations of manipulation of opinion polls by agencies, Congress today approached Election Commission demanding registration of an FIR against those involved and restrictions on surveys while Aam Admi Party sought setting up of a regulatory authority.
Claiming that it has always been a "victim" of opinion polls in general election, Congress along with AAP also targeted Narendra Modi for supporting such surveys but BJP hit back saying the ruling party wants to "impose undeclared emergency" and "throttle" the voice of the people.
In the letter to Chief Election Commissioner V S Sampath, Congress demanded that the Commission invoke its powers under Artcile 324 of the Constitution to ensure free and fair polls by issuing instructions banning opinion polls until expiry of 48 hours from the close of polling for the ensuing Lok Sabha elections.

AICC Legal Department Secretary K C Mittal also sought the Commission's immediate intervention and issuance of appropriate instructions to restrict publication of such opinion polls in view of the sting operation. The party sought the EC's intervention in registering an FIR and debarring those involved.
The development came a day after a television channel claimed that its sting operation had found 11 agencies willing to tweak their survey findings for money.
AICC general secretary Ajay Maken, who along with Mittal met the CEC, said it justifies Congress' stand of not sending any of its panelists to television debates on opinion polls.

Targeting Narendra Modi over the issue, Mittal said after the meeting, "Today it has been established that blackmoney has a big role in opinion polls. Narendra modi, who talks about blackmoney, is supporting opinion polls."

"Modi should answer as to why he is vitiating the election process by pumping money into the opinion poll surveys. On one hand, he is talking about removing blackmoney and on the other hand he is indulging in it," he alleged.
BJP leader Shahnawaz Hussain, however, reacted sharply alleging that Congress wants to "throttle" the voice of people of the country.
"It wants to impose undeclared emergency. It wants that people should not be allowed to express their opinion and wants to put a tape on their mouth. Whenever there is an opinion poll in favour of Congress, it has been propagating it. When the opinion poll is against it, it does not like it," he said.

While Congress and AAP demanded a probe into the allegation, Sampath said the EC will look into the issue to consider legal action.
The CEC said the Election Commission has in the past given recommendations on opinion polls and it was now for the government to act.