Nilotpal charge EC with bias, double standards

New Delhi, June 3 (UNI) Accusing the Election Commission of ''bias and adopting double standards'' against the Left, senior CPI(M) leader Nilotpal Basu today asked the Constitutional body to close the office of profit cases against ten party MPs.

''There is not enough evidence, even prima facie, to support the reckless allegations in a complaint filed by the TMC leader on March 8 that ten CPI(M) MPs are holding Office-of-Profit,'' Mr Basu said in a letter to the EC.

In a press conference here, the CPI(M) leader alleged the EC which had acted with ''pre-conceived notions'' against the Left during the polls in West Bengal, had rejected complaint suo motto against BJP MP Balbir Punj and other present and former BJP members.

Mr Basu said the EC letters to Mr Mukul Ray, dated March 24 and May 3, were biased as they asked him to furnish more information to substantiate charges.

''It is unconstitutional and undemocratic'', he added.

The party also distributed copies of the letters exchanged between the EC and Mr Basu.

Mr Basu's June 2 letter written to EC Secretary K F Wilfred, said the EC had admitted in its letter to Mr Ray on both March 24 and May 3 that his complaint does not contain any iota of information which could merit consideration.

''Still the commission has put my name and my colleagues on its website which has facilitated a media trial to the effect that we are holding office of profit and unilaterally pronouncing us guilty,'' he said.

In reply to a question whether he favoured evolving a mechanism to ensure that one who filed a ''false'' information be punished for the same, Mr Basu said any process of natural justice requires some mechanism to deal with such problems.

He also said he was speaking for himself and not all the ten CPI(M) MPs involved in the controversy.

''I am not here to defend all of them, '' he said.

Mr Basu accused the media of conducting a ''trial'' against the Left parties.

His remark was aimed at a particular report today wherein it was alleged that the left was slamming the EC and even taking a swipe at the President." UNI KSA SK RK2005