The Congress on Saturday slammed the Election Commission of India (ECI) for altering certain regulations concerning electronic documents, including the inspection of CCTV footage, webcasting recordings, and candidates’ video clips. The party claimed these rule changes reflect “the rapidly eroding integrity of the electoral process overseen by the Election Commission.”

The Congress also accused the election authority of compromising transparency in the electoral process.

In a post on X, Congress leader Jairam Ramesh said, “If there was ever a vindication of our claims regarding the rapidly declining integrity of the electoral process managed by the Election Commission of India (ECI) in recent times, this is it.” He referred to a notification issued on December 20 and stated, “We will legally challenge this decision by the ECI immediately.” He further questioned, “Why is the ECI so afraid of transparency?”

According to reports, the government has revised an election rule to restrict public inspection of specific electronic documents, including CCTV footage, webcasting recordings, and video clips of candidates, to prevent potential misuse. Following a recommendation from the Election Commission, the Union law ministry amended Rule 93(2)(a) of the Conduct of Election Rules, 1961, to limit the types of “papers” or documents available for public inspection.

As per Rule 93, all “papers” related to elections should be open for public viewing. The amendment, however, adds “as specified in these rules” after “papers.” Officials from the law ministry and the EC clarified that this amendment was prompted by a court case.

While documents like nomination forms, election agent appointments, results, and election financial statements are specified in the Conduct of Election Rules, electronic documents such as CCTV footage, webcasting recordings, and candidates’ videos during the Model Code of Conduct are not included.

An EC official informed PTI, “There have been cases where such electronic records were requested under these rules. The amendment ensures that only the documents specified are available for public inspection, and any documents not referenced in the rules cannot be inspected.”

EC officials expressed concerns that misuse of CCTV footage from polling booths could jeopardize voter confidentiality. They also noted that such footage could be manipulated to create misleading narratives using artificial intelligence.

“All such materials, including footage, will remain accessible to candidates even after the amendment. However, individuals can still approach the courts to request access to these electronic records,” another EC official stated.

Ukrainian drones targeted high-rise buildings in the Russian city of Kazan on Saturday, drawing unsettling comparisons to the September 11 attacks in the U.S. when planes struck New York’s Twin Towers in 2001.

Tatarstan’s governor, Rustam Minnikhanov, reported that eight drones were deployed, with six striking residential buildings, one hitting an industrial site, and another being shot down over a river.

Local officials stated that there were no reported casualties. In response to the attacks, flights at Kazan’s airport were suspended, and all public events were canceled for the weekend. The Defence Ministry indicated that the city experienced three waves of drone strikes between 7:40 a.m. and 9:20 a.m., with no casualties reported according to local authorities.

The mayor of Kazan announced on Telegram that all planned mass gatherings would be canceled and temporary accommodations would be provided for evacuees.

The Baza Telegram channel, linked to Russian security sources, released video footage that purportedly shows an aerial object colliding with a high-rise building, resulting in a substantial explosion. The authenticity of the footage has not been verified.

These attacks were not acknowledged by Ukraine, aligning with its security policy, and followed a Ukrainian strike on Friday that targeted a town in Russia’s Kursk border region, killing six individuals, including a child, using U.S.-supplied missiles.

In a separate development, Moscow launched 113 drones into Ukraine overnight on Saturday, according to Ukrainian officials. The Ukrainian Air Force reported that 57 of these drones were shot down, while an additional 56 were considered “lost,” likely due to electronic jamming.

Additionally, Oleh Syniehubov, the governor of Ukraine’s Kharkiv region, stated that eight people were injured in drone strikes on the regional capital, also named Kharkiv, on Friday night.

The incident occurred amidst increasingly bold attacks following Russian President Vladimir Putin’s comments during his end-of-year news conference on Thursday, where he proposed a “high-tech duel” with Kyiv. He claimed that Russia’s new hypersonic ballistic missile was immune to air defenses.

On Friday, a Russian hypersonic missile strike on Ukraine’s capital, Kyiv, resulted in at least one death and seven injuries. On the same day, Ukraine launched an attack on the town of Rylsk in Russia’s Kursk border region using United States-supplied missiles, which killed six people, including a child.

Ukrainian officials said that overnight into Saturday, Moscow unleashed 113 drones on Ukraine, with 57 of them being intercepted. An additional 56 drones were deemed “lost,” likely due to electronic jamming.

The Congress on Saturday hit out at Prime Minister Narendra Modi, referring to him as the “frequent flyer PM” as he traveled to Kuwait while the residents of Manipur await his presence in their violence-affected region.

Modi’s two-day visit to Kuwait, commencing on December 21, 2024, aims to strengthen connections in various sectors, including defense and trade.

Congress general secretary in charge of communications, Jairam Ramesh, took to X to express his sentiments: “Such is their fate, as Modi refuses to find a date. The people of Manipur continue to wait while the Frequent Flyer PM is off to Kuwait.”

The Congress has consistently called on Modi to visit Manipur, arguing that his presence could aid in restoring peace and normalcy to the troubled State. Ethnic violence erupted in Manipur on May 3 of the previous year during a tribal solidarity march in the hill districts, protesting the Meitei community’s demand for Scheduled Tribe status.

Since then, over 220 individuals from both the Meitei and Kuki communities, along with security personnel, have lost their lives in the ongoing conflict.

PM Modi’s trip comes shortly after recent political developments in the region, including the collapse of President Bashar al-Assad’s regime in Syria and ongoing tensions due to the Israeli offensive in Gaza. During his stay, he plans to hold talks with key Kuwaiti officials and meet with the Indian community.

In his departure statement, PM Modi emphasised the importance of his discussions with the Kuwaiti leadership, highlighting them as a chance to establish a roadmap for a future-oriented partnership between India and Kuwait.

He stated, “We deeply value the historical connection with Kuwait that has been nurtured over generations. We are not just strong trade and energy partners but also share interests in peace, security, stability, and prosperity in the West Asia region.”

The Prime Minister expressed enthusiasm for his meetings with the Emir, the Crown Prince, and the Prime Minister of Kuwait. Additionally, he will attend the opening ceremony of the 26th Arabian Gulf Cup in the country. The last Indian Prime Minister to visit Kuwait was Indira Gandhi in 1981.