Opposition raises questions after EC suspends officer for checking PM Modi's chopper

The Election Commission suspended an IAS officer on Wednesday night for checking Prime Minister Narendra Modi's helicopter in Odisha's Sambalpur, terming it a violation of norms in dealing with SPG protectees.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi. PTI Photo

NEW DELHI: The opposition parties on Thursday raised questions on Election Commission's decision of suspending a poll official for allegedly checking Prime Minister Narendra Modi's helicopter in Odisha's Sambalpur on Tuesday. In its order, the commission said Mohammad Mohsin, a Karnataka cadre IAS officer, was suspended for actions contrary to its instructions concerning those being protected by the Special Protection Group (SPG) protectees. The Congress criticised the EC's action against Mohsin saying the rules cited by it to punish the bureaucrat do not exempt PM's vehicle from being searched. "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.

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 ???????????????? ???????????? exempt PM's vehicle from being searched.

What is Modi carrying in the helicopter that he doesn't want India to see? pic.twitter.com/apDdhgSMJB — Congress (@INCIndia) April 18, 2019

Senior Congress leader and Rajya Sabha MP Ahmed Patel also asked theEC why did it suspend the poll official. "There have been instances where during polls the EC was allowed to check convoys of both current and former Congress Presidents. The Special Protection Group (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," Patel tweeted. "The question is simple. If SPG protectees of the Congress party can be subjected to inspection, why is the same not applicable to the BJP," he asked.

There have been instances where during polls EC was allowed to check convoys of both current & the former Congress President

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 ? — Ahmed Patel (@ahmedpatel) April 18, 2019

The Aam Aadmi Party 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.

Suspension of the officer who checked PM's helicopter. The #chowkidar lives in his own protected shell!

Is the Chowkidar trying to hide something ?https://t.co/pIHiZNtUf9 — AAP (@AamAadmiParty) April 18, 2019

The poll panel said that Mohsin had acted contrary to the instructions of the EC concerning the SPG protectees. Modi was learnt to have been held up at Sambalpur for nearly 15 minutes because of Mohsin's "actions". Modi had visited Odisha on Tuesday where he addressed two election rallies in Sambalpur and Bhubaneswar. "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 official in Bhubaneswar. Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik's helicopter was also checked by EC flying squad personnel in Rourkela on Tuesday. A similar check was carried out on Petroleum Minister Dharmendra Pradhan's chopper at Sambalpur Tuesday, sources said. There have been instances where during polls the EC allowed checking of convoys of both current and the former Congress president. (With inputs from agencies)