Menon accuses govt of pushing 'secret agenda' through EC

FE Team | Published: September 25, 2007 00:00:00 | Updated: February 01, 2018 00:00:00

Worker's Party President Rashed Khan Menon came down heavily on the government and the Election Commission (EC) Sunday saying that the government was pushing a 'secret agenda' through the EC.
He made the allegation while speaking at a discussion meeting on "Electoral Reforms" at the party office in the city on the day, reports bdnews24.com.
"The government is using the Election Commission to do the unpopular job of reining in political parties because the present interim government is not in a position to do so lawfully. Attempts are underway to push the secret agenda through the Election Commission," Menon said.
Other senior members of the party also spoke at the discussion, chaired by convener Abul Hossain.
Menon further said, "The government speaks of graft and plunder but doesn't say anything against communalism and fundamentalists."
"If fair elections were held, Jamaat would not score more than 8.0 per cent of votes," he asserted.
Menon said: "We want registration of political parties to strengthen democracy, but registration does not mean regulating the parties."
"The EC has no right to decide or impose conditions on the running of the political parties or their constitutions and manifestos. Our relationship with the Election Commission is based on ballots."
"We should remember that demand for reforms to the election laws was not a gift from the Election Commission. It's the outcome of people's movement," he added.
Commenting on the recent events relating to the "rogue cartoon", he said: "People's faith in religion is not fragile to be shaken with one stroke. People are God-fearing, not communal."
Menon blamed former presidents Ziaur Rahman and HM Ershad for, what he said, destroying the election system.
Fazle Hosain Badshah, a member of the party politburo, demanded a ban on politics in places of worship.
"The Election Commission should deal with any speech, slogan or poster posing danger to collective harmony."