New Delhi: The Election Commission (EC) today (Feb 29, 2004) voiced "surprise and shock" over statements made by "certain Ministers", an apparent reference to Information and Broadcasting Minister Ravishankar Prasad, on the ban on political advertisements in electronic media and said it was only implementing a law enacted by Parliament and had not taken a decision on its own.

"There have been gross misstatements that the Commission acted irresponsibly" with regard to the issue of advertisements on electronic media and some Ministers also made statements, a visibly upset Chief Election Commissioner T S Krishnamurthy said while announcing the poll schedule at a press conference.

His reference was apparently to Prasad, who had said on Feb 27 that the EC had taken a decision not to permit political ads on television channels.

He said he was "surprised and shocked" to find allegations that the Commission had banned political ads. What the Commission had done was only to enforce a 1995 law passed by Parliament, he said.

"How are certain Ministers making such statements? Even journalists did not verify facts," he said, making it clear if people had grievances with regard to Commission's order, they could look for action elsewhere.