File photo of Sharad Pawar
In the wake of the Election Commission (EC) tightening the flow of black money during the ongoing Lok Sabha elections by adopting stringent measures, Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) leader Sharad Pawar feels the commission is going overboard and has criticised its move.
Reacting sharply to EC officials keeping a close watch on the movement of a large amount of cash transported in cars and other vehicles during election period, Mr Pawar, while speaking to reporters in Akluj in Solapur district on Sunday, came down heavily on the EC for "harassing the people under the garb of organising free and fair elections".
(Sharad Pawar: the man who couldn't become PM)"We all understand that elections should be held in a free and fair manner but the Election Commission is crossing its limit by checking any and every other vehicle. Who has given them this right,'' he questioned.
Explaining his annoyance with the EC, he said, "There are many offices that require cash for the payment of salaries to their employees; even banks have to transport cash in bulk.''.
Mr Pawar added, "Many business people have told me that they have stopped doing business during this period fearing the commission and the income tax authorities.''
(India Votes 2014: Coverage)Terming the action by the EC as harassment, the NCP leader said that after the elections, he will take up the issue with the commission when an an all-party meeting to discuss election issues is held.
"This has to be stopped,'' he said.
Mr Pawar said that once the vehicle carrying cash is seized, it is taken to the police station and released only after all relevant documents are submitted and that may take a few days.
"But who will bear the interest burden on that cash for four days,'' he said.
Incidentally, on Friday, cash worth over Rs 12 crore was seized in a vehicle by police in Solapur district.
The cash was reportedly withdrawn from a bank in Pimpri Chinchwad and it was being taken to a sugar factory in Solapur district. A thorough inquiry has been ordered into why and how so much cash was being carried in gunny bags in a vehicle.
Mr Pawar had earlier been warned by the Election commission after he had made a suggestion that voters should first cast their ballot in Satara, remove the ink stain and then come to Mumbai to vote again.
('Erase ink, vote twice': Sharad Pawar's comment kicks up a storm)The NCP leader later said he had made the statement in zest.