Parties to EC: Act on BJP ‘pleasure trips’

The BJP is keeping its “potential” booth workers in good humour by arranging pleasure trips for them to different state capitals, misusing government machinery after the announcement of the Bihar poll schedule and this is nothing but an attempt to corrupt voters, charged leaders of the Congress, JD(U) and RJD combine here on Monday.

They addressed a joint press conference at the AICC headquarters in a bid to dispel reports of a division in the “grand secular alliance” in Bihar. The grand alliance, comprising these three parties, is fighting a decisive battle against the BJP-led NDA.

The “grand alliance” complained to the Election Commission about BJP workers from the state allegedly being taken to saffron party-ruled states for “training” by special trains at concessional rates, in violation of norms, and demanded action under the anti-graft law. The parties claimed this involved “illegal” use of government machinery as the railways had allowed 60 per cent concessions to passengers travelling by these special trains, causing a loss to the national exchequer.

An alliance delegation met the poll panel and sought action against the BJP under the Prevention of Corruption Act, IPC and Representation of the People Act for various violations.

Claiming that BJP workers had boarded four trains from Patna for Raipur, Mumbai, Bhopal and Jaipur between September 7 and 13 for training in “booth management”, the combine alleged, “It amounts to several offences... Offences under Prevention of Corruption Act, IPC, etc. It is not a case of a mere breach of the model code of conduct. It is a clear case of bribery. Who paid for these excursions Except bribery, there can be no other term given to these blatant violations of the model code by the BJP,” noted laywer and Rajya Sabha member K.T.S. Tulsi said at a press conference at Congress headquarters.

In a joint press release, the three parties, represented by AICC general secretary in charge of Bihar C.P. Joshi, Congress communication department chief Randip Surjewala, JD(U) leaders K.C. Tyagi and Pawan Varma and the RJD’s Manoj Jha, also demanded that the railway ministry immediately withdraw the concessions given.

“We demand the railway ministry constitute an inquiry into the collusion of officials, who were obviously working under the Modi government’s diktat in granting this illegal concession,” they said.

“The Indian National Congress, JD(U) and RJD are deeply concerned at such grossly illegal and collusive activities involving the BJP and the Central government using public money in total violation of the EC’s guidelines and the Model Code of Conduct, completely taking away from the EC’s professed goal of creating a level playing field for all political parties,” the release, issued after their meeting with the commission, said.