Cong pressures EC on exit poll

The Congress today urged the Election Commission to defer the declaration of results of the exit polls and said the violence during the poll...

The Congress today urged the Election Commission to defer the declaration of results of the exit polls and said the violence during the polling today is a blot on the democracy in the country.

Party spokesman Abhishek Singhvi said: ‘‘We would like to reiterate our demand that the results of the exit polls be announced after the May 10 elections.’’

‘‘We would like to stress that if the exit polls did not affect the level-playing field of the elections, why do we not announce the results of the each phase of the elections immediately? Why are the election results announced at the end of the final polls?’’ he asked.

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The Congress also said the CBI chargesheet in the Bilkis case shows that the ‘‘government has ceased to exist in Gujarat’’. Singhvi said: ‘‘The chargesheet shows that there have been gross and inexcusable omissions and commissions.’’

‘‘It shows a cover-up and abdication of impartial application of the law, hiding of physical evidence and bodies, fudging of figures and lack of protection to witnesses,’’ he said.

‘‘We have had the strictures of the Supreme Court on different subjects, the Best Bakery case had run into trouble and now this chargesheet, to show that raj dharma is not being followed in Gujarat,’’ he added.

‘‘But like Dritrasthra, who had his eyes covered, the leaders are not commenting on the mismanagement of justice in Gujarat,’’ he said.