Sunday, September 18 2005 17:03 Hrs (IST) - World Time -

Patna: Disapproving of the Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) charge of caste bias against the Election Commission, Lok Janshakti Party (LJP) President Ramvilas Paswan today (Sept 18, 2005) said it was completely uncalled for and unwarranted to level such allegation against the constitutional body.

I strongly disapprove of RJD's criticism of the Commission on the recent transfers of officials, including then SPs, DMs and DSPs

It is completely uncalled for and unwarranted, Paswan told sources in Patna.

He said even Prime Minister Manmohan Singh had suggested that political parties, particularly those in Government, should maintain restraint.

It is not a healthy sign for democracy, he remarked.

Paswan said though the LJP had grievances with the officials in Bihar's bureaucratic set-up over some issues relating to electoral malpractices we have never targeted the commission which maintains transparency in its functioning.

RJD president Lalu Prasad had recently alleged that officials belonging to the Muslim community, Yadavas and other weaker sections of the society were being shunted out at the behest of the Commission.