 "EC suspends officer for checking Narendra Modi's chopper; 'chowkidar lives in protected shell,' taunts AAP")
New Delhi: 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. In its order, the commission said Mohammad Mohsin was suspended for actions contrary to its instructions concerning those being protected by the Special Protection Group (SPG) protectees. Modi had visited Sambalpur to address an election rally on 16 April. The Congress criticised the EC’s action against Mohsin, a Karnataka cadre IAS officer, 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.
— Congress (@INCIndia) April 18, 2019
The rule cited governs the use of official vehicles for campaigning. It 𝑫𝑶𝑬𝑺 𝑵𝑶𝑻 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
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. The commission took the action against Mohsin, the general observer of Sambalpur, on the basis of a report submitted by the district collector and the deputy inspector general of police. Modi was learnt to have been held up at Sambalpur for nearly 15 minutes because of Mohsin’s “actions”. “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. Senior Congress leader Ahmed Patel also took strong objection to the EC suspending the official and asked what message is being sent through the action. “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,” he tweeted
There have been instances where during polls EC was allowed to check convoys of both current & the former Congress President
— Ahmed Patel Memorial (@ahmedpatel) April 18, 2019
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 ?
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