New Delhi: Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan launched a blistering attack on Congress leader Rahul Gandhi, accusing the Congress party of “hypocrisy and disrespect” towards BR Ambedkar in the wake of the controversy surrounding the late-night appointment of Gyanesh Kumar as the new Chief Election Commissioner (CEC).
Pradhan asserted that the Congress has consistently used the Constitution to serve its political interests while simultaneously belittling Ambedkar’s legacy. He questioned Gandhi’s moral standing to champion democratic ideals and the founding fathers’ principles.
“Congress Party crushed the Constitution at their convenience to serve their political interests. Congress never left an opportunity to ridicule and insult Baba Saheb Ambedkar, yet the Yuvraj of Congress has the audacity to take a grandstand on upholding Baba Saheb’s ideals and that of our founding leaders,” Pradhan wrote in an X post.
Congress Party crushed the Constitution at their convenience to serve their political interests. Congress never left an opportunity to ridicule and insult Baba Saheb Ambedkar, yet the Yuvraj of Congress has the audacity to take a grandstand on upholding Baba Saheb’s ideals and… https://t.co/iCGQAgtrQI
— Dharmendra Pradhan (@dpradhanbjp) February 18, 2025
Pradhan dismissed Rahul Gandhi’s criticism of the CEC appointment as a publicity stunt designed to create controversy and spread misinformation. He challenged Gandhi to explain the Congress party’s inaction on reforming the CEC selection process during their long tenure in power, highlighting the current appointment as the first to be based on parliamentary law, a step he considers a significant improvement. He further criticised Gandhi and the Congress for their dramatic reaction to an appointment made within the existing legal framework.
“This latest jig by @RahulGandhi is another attempt to create controversy and peddle propaganda on the appointment of CEC. Has Rahul Gandhi forgotten how ECs were appointed during Congress rule? Despite being in power for decades why did Congress govt’s did nothing to reform the selection mechanism?<” he asked reporting Gandhi’s post.
“As a matter of fact, this is the first time that CEC has been appointed by a law passed in the Parliament. It is our govt. that has created a joint system for the appointment of CEC and EC, which includes the LoP. It is a great misfortune that Rahul Gandhi and Congress Party are acting like cry babies even when no rule/law is broken,” he added.
The controversy stems from Rahul Gandhi’s condemnation of the late-night appointment as “disrespectful” and “discourteous,” particularly given the pending Supreme Court case challenging the appointment process. Gandhi, in a post on X, emphasised the need for an independent Election Commission free from executive influence and shared his dissent note from the selection committee meeting. He voiced concerns about the removal of the Chief Justice of India from the committee and the potential impact on the integrity of the electoral process.
“During the meeting of the committee to select the next Election Commissioner, I presented a dissent note to the PM and HM, that stated: The most fundamental aspect of an independent Election Commission free from executive interference is the process of choosing the Election Commissioner and Chief Election Commissioner,” Gandhi posted on X.
“It is both disrespectful and discourteous for the PM and HM to have made a midnight decision to select the new CEC, when the very composition of the committee and the process is being challenged in the Supreme Court and is due to be heard in less than forty-eight hours,” he added. He further argues that the government’s actions, including the removal of the Chief Justice of India from the selection committee, raise serious concerns about the integrity of India’s electoral process and exacerbate the anxieties of millions of voters.
