'Smacks of ulterior motives': Congress to EC on notice to Kharge

NEW DELHI: The Congress connected Thursday submitted a “summary response” to the Election Commission’s announcement issued to enactment president Mallikarjun Kharge implicit his “terrorist” remark, alleging that the determination “smacks of ulterior motives” and does not represent a usurpation of the Model Code of Conduct oregon immoderate law.The enactment has sought 1 week’s clip to record a elaborate reply.In a missive to Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar, Congress wide caput (communications) Jairam Ramesh flagged discrepancies successful the notices issued by the canvass body."We are successful receipt of 2 notices with the aforesaid fig ... some dated April 22, 2026, and signed by 2 antithetic officials," Ramesh said, adding that if 1 had been withdrawn, determination was nary notation of it.He besides pointed retired that portion 1 announcement cited a ailment by Trinamool Congress person Derek O’Brien, the different mentation uploaded connected the EC’s website omitted the complainant’s name."This indicates a casual and regular mode successful which show-cause notices are being issued, simply connected the ground of the ruling party’s complaints and without owed exertion of mind," Ramesh alleged, besides criticising the 24-hour deadline fixed to Kharge to respond.

Calling the clip framework insufficient, helium said Kharge is presently engaged successful aggregate run events."It appears the announcement is being issued arsenic a formality alternatively than successful the tone of earthy justice," Ramesh said.The Congress has requested a week’s clip to taxable a elaborate effect and sought an accidental for a elder delegation to contiguous its lawsuit earlier the Commission.In its summary reply, the enactment said Kharge had already clarified his remarks.