S Y Quraishi, who was Chief Election Commissioner during the UPA-II government, has said he never faced any pressure from the government, saying the Election Commission's image at the time was such that "nobody would dare" approach it.
In an interview with PTI Videos ahead of the launch of his book India and I: A Hundred Memories, Not a Memoir, Quraishi, who served as Chief Election Commissioner from July 30, 2010, to June 10, 2012 during the UPA-II government, said the government was often the last to know when elections would be announced.
Asked whether he had ever experienced pressure from the government while serving as CEC, Quraishi said, "No, not at all. There was no question of any pressure because the image of the election commission was such that nobody would dare to approach us."
He also recalled the secrecy surrounding the announcement of election schedules, saying even intelligence agencies tried to gauge the dates in advance.
"And as regards the dates of the election, I know that IB (Intelligence Bureau) was roaming around the election building just to smell and sniff around what the dates are. The government was always the last to know when we were going to hold the election," he said.
"We used to announce it in a press conference. That is the time when the government also got to know," he added.
When asked whether he believes the situation has changed since then, Quraishi said he had no reason to think so.
"I don't know. I don't think so. I hope not but I have no information about it," he said.
Quraishi's comments come ahead of the release of his new book, India and I: A Hundred Memories, Not a Memoir, published by Hachette India. The book chronicles 100 episodes from his personal and professional life.
His remarks also come against the backdrop of repeated allegations by the Congress and other opposition parties that the current Election Commission has been acting at the behest of the government. Both the Election Commission and the Centre have consistently denied those allegations.
(With PTI inputs)
