Election Commission Clears Haryana Govt Of Breach Of Model Code

The Election Commission (EC) has said that Chief Minister Bhupinder Singh Hooda-led Congress government in Haryana had not violated the model code of conduct by clearing the land deal between Congress president Sonia Gandhi’s son-in-law Robert Vadra and DLF.

Responding to the BJP’s complaint, the EC replied, “There does not seem to be any violation of the model code of conduct by the government of Haryana in the matter after the coming into force of the model code of conduct from September 12.”

The EC said it had examined the allegations of violation of the model code of conduct and asked for reports from the concerned state departments. “However, in case you have any further or additional information in this regard, you may furnish the same to the commission,” it said.

The report submitted by the financial commissioner, Town and Country Planning Department, said, “The decision on the request for renewal and transfer of licence in favour of DLF Ltd is pending in the department since October 2012 for want of clarification regarding the issue of ownership. The department has sought this clarification from the Director General, Consolidation of Land Holdings and Land Records, which is yet to be received and hence the request for transfer and renewal of licence is pending in the department on which no action has been taken since then.”

“It is clarified that neither any allegation about any action taken by the Town and Country Planning Department has been made in the news reports, nor any action on the subject... has been taken in the Town & Country Planning Department, either during the period of model code of conduct or before imposition of such code,” the report added.