Opp questions EC for suspending officer for checking PM’s copter

| | New Delhi
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Opp questions EC for suspending officer for checking PM’s copter

Friday, 19 April 2019 | PNS | New Delhi

A major controversy has erupted after the Election Commission (EC) ordered suspension of a high-ranking poll official deputed to Odisha for checking Prime Minister Narendra Modi chopper in Sambalpur.

As per the EC guidelines, SPG protectees are exempted from such inspection. However, the Congress and the AAP on Thursday said what Modi was carrying in his helicopter that he did not want India to see. “The poll body’s rules ‘do not exempt’ PM’s vehicle from being checked,” the Congress said.

According to the EC, a 1996 batch Karnataka cadre IAS officer Mohammed Mohsin didn’t follow protocol for checking SPG protectees.  Modi had visited Sambalpur to address an election rally on April 16.

Recently, Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik’s helicopter was inspected by EC flying squad in Rourkela. Union Petroleum Minister Dharmendra Pradhan’s chopper was checked at Sambalpur.

Senior Congress leader Ahmed Patel took strong objection to the EC action against poll official. “SPG protectees can’t be frisked personally. Why suspend an officer for checking PM’s chopper? What message is being sent? Law is special for some,” he tweeted.

The party said in a tweet that an official was suspended by ECI for doing his job of inspecting vehicles.

 “The rule cited governs the use of official vehicles for campaigning. It does not exempt PM’s vehicle from being searched,” the party said in a tweet.

“What is Modi carrying in the helicopter that he doesn’t want India to see,” it asked. The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) also took a jibe at Modi in a tweet.

“Suspension of the officer who checked PM’s helicopter. The chowkidar lives in his own protected shell! Is the Chowkidar trying to hide something,” it asked.

As per reports, the poll panel had asked for a report from the District Collector and the Deputy Inspector General of Police after the incident.

The EC took the action against Mohsin, the general observer of Sambalpur, on the basis of a report submitted by the District Collector and the Deputy Inspector General of police. Modi was learnt to have been held up at Sambalpur for nearly 15 minutes because of Mohsin’s “actions”.

“Checking of the Prime Minister’s chopper, undertaken at Sambalpur, was not in accordance with the EC guidelines as SPG protectees are exempt from such checking,” said an EC official.

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