Cong lodges complaint with EC against BJP on Sharmila claim

Congress today lodged a complaint with the Election Commission against BJP for allegedly offering to finance the poll campaign of Independent candidate Irom Sharmila in Manipur and demanded a thorough probe and strict action including criminal prosecution.
In its complaint, Congress secretary of Legal and Human Rights Cell K C Mittal said the charges by Sharmila that BJP and its chief Amit Shah had offered to finance her campaign to the tune of crores was "grave and serious" and required a thorough investigation.
"The allegations made by her against the national political party are grave and very serious, which go to the root of electoral process, requiring thorough investigation and appropriate action by the Commission, including criminal prosecution," he said.

Mittal said these allegations need to be investigated in depth to reach to the truth which is essential "to save Constitution and the democratic process".
"It is requested that an independent investigation may be conducted by the Commission by a high-level team to collect entire material and evidence and prosecute persons found responsible for such offer of bribe for electoral purposes, apart from other action as may be considered appropriate by the Commission looking into the gravity of allegations and its impact," he said.
Mittal said the Commission has recently made several recommendations to the government for electoral reforms, one being the contribution of Rs 2,000 and above to political parties to render account to eschew corruption in the electoral process.

"Prime Minister Narendra Modi made it a political and electoral issue to project as his biggest achievement to clean the political system, which none opposed. But the allegation made by Sharmila is a challenge to them and a matter of public concern.
"Since the allegations pertain to the elections in Manipur, the statement made by Sharmila can't be ignored or overlooked by the Commission on the denial plea by Sh Ram Madhav," the Congress leader told the EC.