New Delhi, April 3 -- Calling the Malda violence "unfortunate and condemnable," Samajwadi Party MP Awadhesh Prasad on Friday held the central government responsible for the incident, while also alleging that the Election Commission of India is no longer impartial or independent.

Speaking to ANI, Prasad said, "The Malda violence is unfortunate and condemnable. This is the government's strategy to end democracy. In the last monsoon session, our leader Akhilesh Yadav, along with all the MPs of our party, was prepared to meet the Election Commission. But the Election Commission did not think it was right to meet. Our country's Election Commission is neither impartial nor free. The central government is entirely responsible for this incident....