Chief Electoral Officer (CEO) Gopal Krishna Dwivedi reacted sharply to the government’s contention that the Intelligence chief has no role to play in the conduct of elections.
Speaking to reporters at the Secretariat on Wednesday, Mr. Dwivedi also disputed the government’s claim that the Intelligence chief’s primarily responsibility was providing security to the CM, his Cabinet colleagues and others. “How can elections be conducted without the help of the Intelligence wing? How can there be Police Department without Intelligence wing?” he asked.
It was not possible to shift the police forces from one place to another without a proper estimate and inputs from the Intelligence. The inputs from the Intelligence Department were crucial, whether it was regarding the murder of former MP Y.S. Vivekananda Reddy or the killing of Kidari Sarveswara Rao, he pointed out.
‘Autonomous institution’
The EC was an autonomous institution.
The explanations and information being provided by the Chief Secretary, the Principal Secretary (Home) and the DGP were being sent to the ECI. Anyone having objections over the decisions of the ECI could approach court. The ECI would place its arguments before the court on Thursday, he added.