Udaipur (Rajasthan) [India], June 12 (ANI): Former Rajasthan Chief Minister and Congress leader Ashok Gehlot on Thursday said the country is facing growing tension and polarisation, which he called 'dangerous for democracy'.

Gehlot added that democracy becomes strong only when all religions and castes move together. He said saving the Constitution is more important than just winning elections and added that the opposition plays a key role in protecting people's rights.

Speaking to the mediapersons, Ashok Gehlot said, 'The entire country is witnessing a kind of tension and polarisation which is there for the first time in post-independent India. It's not in anyone's interest. Democracy becomes strong only when all religions and castes move together. Winning elections is one thing, but saving democracy is another thing. Slowly, democracy is being murdered, and the Constitution is in danger. Rahul Gandhi is repeatedly saying to save the Constitution. Opposition is important in democracy, and what is a government in a democracy without opposition?... Opposition raises voice for the people...'

Earlier in the day, Congress leader Pawan Khera alleged that the BJP-led NDA government has restricted public access to election documents, just 11 days after a Punjab and Haryana High Court order demanding transparency.

Khera, who is the Chairman of the the party's Media and Publicity Department, claimed that on December 9 last year, the Punjab and Haryana High Court directed the Election Commission to share CCTV footage and Form 17C records from the Haryana elections, leading to the Election Commission of India (ECI) writing to the Law Ministry proposing changes to Rule 93 of the Conduct of Election Rules, arguing that allowing inspection of 'all other papers' created an 'administrative burden'.

In a post on X, he further claimed that by December 20 last year, the rule was amended and notified.

He said that the phrase 'all other papers relating to the election shall be open to public inspection' was replaced with 'all other papers as specified in these rules', quietly narrowing public access.

'The government has quietly restricted public access to election documents, just 11 days after a High Court order demanding transparency. On Dec 9, 2024, the Punjab & Haryana High Court directed the Election Commission to share CCTV footage and Form 17C records from the Haryana elections, he said on social media platform X, based on an article.'

'On Dec 17, the EC wrote to the Law Ministry proposing changes to Rule 93 of the Conduct of Election Rules, arguing that allowing inspection of 'all other papers' created an 'administrative burden'. By 10:23 PM on Dec 20, the rule was amended and notified. The phrase 'all other papers relating to the election shall be open to public inspection' was replaced with 'all other papers as specified in these rules', quietly narrowing public access,' Khera said.

The Congress leader claimed that the amendment created a legal 'ambiguity' and contradicted the original intent of the rule in place since 1961.

The amendment effectively blocks access to CCTV footage, video recordings, and other electronic records, none of which are 'specified' in the old rulebook.

He said the amendment was done after the High Court ordered the release of those materials. 'The timing and speed, just 11 days from court order to notification, are notable,' Khera added.(ANI)