Not monitoring fund raising by Team Anna: EC

NEW DELHI: Stating that its role was limited to ensuring conduct of free, fair and peaceful polls, the Election Commission today clarified it was not monitoring fund raising by Team Anna for its campaign against the Congress in the five poll-bound states.

In a statement, the Commission said its concern was limited to the extent that such campaigns were not inflammatory and did not create disharmony among different sections of Indian citizens.

Any disturbance in law and order or a level-playing field among political parties may have a serious impact on the conduct of free, fair and peaceful elections, it said.

"If anyone indulges in any such unlawful activity, law will certainly take its own course," it said.

It also termed reports about EC monitoring Team Anna's fund-raising as "baseless". "The Commission denies that it is monitoring any such fund raising. The reports to that effect are entirely baseless," the EC stated.

"The Commission has already clarified repeatedly that everyone has a right to canvass for or against any political party or candidate, as it fully respects the freedom of expression of every Indian citizen guaranteed to them under the Constitution," the statement added.

It stated that if any organisation or an individual campaigns in favour of any particular political party or candidate, the expenditure incurred on any such campaign would be liable to be booked in the expenditure account of that party or candidate(s) concerned.