Former Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) S.Y. Quraishi has shared a deeply personal account of former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh’s commitment to safeguarding the independence of the Election Commission of India (ECI), recalling an emotional conversation from 2012 in his forthcoming book, India and I: A Hundred Memories, Not a Memoir.
The episode dates back to the Uttar Pradesh Assembly elections, when then Union Minister Salman Khurshid was censured by the Election Commission for allegedly violating the Model Code of Conduct after promising to increase the Muslim quota in government jobs from 4.5 per cent to 9 per cent if the Congress came to power.
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Quraishi wrote that the Commission, after hearing arguments from both the BJP and Congress, issued its strongest possible censure under the Model Code. The decision sparked criticism from sections of the Congress, with some leaders accusing the poll panel of being arrogant and arbitrary.
Concerned over remarks that, in his view, undermined the credibility of the Election Commission, Quraishi conveyed his disappointment to then Prime Minister’s Press Secretary Harish Khare. The matter was subsequently brought to Dr Singh’s attention.
According to Quraishi, the Prime Minister immediately called him for a meeting. During their conversation, Singh reportedly said, “If that is what you think, I will commit suicide,” believing Quraishi had lost faith in his intentions.
Quraishi said he clarified that his concerns were directed at certain ministers, not the Prime Minister. Singh responded that he had been unaware of the ministers’ remarks and assured him that he would have strongly reprimanded them had he known.
The former CEC also quoted Singh as describing the Election Commission as “the soul of our democracy,” stressing that weakening the institution would endanger the country’s democratic foundations.
Quraishi said the criticism against the Election Commission ceased after the meeting and praised Singh’s humility, sensitivity and deep respect for democratic institutions.
