*No suo moto notice of Sonia-Shahi Imam meeting
Sanjeev Pargal
JAMMU, Apr 3: Chief Election Commissioner V S Sampath said today that the Election Commission would ensure maximum participation of electorates in Jammu and Kashmir to ensure that “poll boycott call” (given by the separatists had no impact on the ground.
Addressing a press conference here after reviewing election preparedness for six Lok Sabha seats of Jammu and Kashmir with senior officers of Election Department, civil and police officers among others, Mr Sampath said: “we have faith in the will of the people that they would strengthen democracy and take part in the electoral process”.
Replying to a question on low turnout of 23 per cent in Srinagar during last Lok Sabha elections and poll boycott call given by some separatists in Jammu and Kashmir, the CEC, who was accompanied by Election Commissioner Dr Nasim Zaidi, Deputy Election Commissioner Vinod Zutshi and Chief Electoral Officer (CEO) Umang Narula, said the election boycott calls have been reported from different places for different reasons.
However, he said, the Election Commission has full faith in the people and would take all possible measures to ensure good voter turnout in Jammu and Kashmir.
“Several measures (for healthy turnout in the Lok Sabha elections) have already been taken by the Election Commission and, if required, “we would take all necessary steps to ensure that the people turn out and cast their votes,” Mr Sampath said.
Replying to a question on whether the Election Commission will take suo moto notice of AICC (I) president Sonia Gandhi’s meeting with Shahi Imam of Delhi’s Jama Masjid Syed Ahmed Bukhari, Mr Sampath said: “we generally, in such matters take cognisance on the receipt of written complaint. We should be awaiting that”.
Sampath, who was replying to a question at a press conference here with regard to BJP’s demand for a suo moto cognisance of Sonia-Imam meeting on April 1, said: “as soon as it (the complaint) is received, we will definitely examine and further action would be taken.”
Taking strong objection to Sonia’s appeal to Muslim leaders to ensure their votes are not split, BJP yesterday termed it is a violation of the Model Code of Conduct and asked the Election Commission to take suo moto note of it.
In response to another question on delay in BJP Prime Ministerial candidate Narendra Modi’s helicopter in flying from New Delhi to Bareily, Mr Sampath said the Election Commission has sought a factual report from Ministry of Civil Aviation on the complaint by BJP.
“We have sought a report from the Union Ministry for Civil Aviation with regard to Delhi Airport not granting prompt permission to Mr Modi’s helicopter for taking off due to which he was late for his rally in Bareilly on April 1,” he said.
“That complaint has been received by the Election authority. We have already asked for a factual report from Civil Aviation Ministry. Definitely further action will be taken,” Mr Sampath said.
To another question about releasing of BJP manifesto on the day of first phase of Lok Sabha elections in the country on April 7, he said there was no restriction in the release of manifesto. “This is not the violation of Model Code of Conduct,” he added.
Replying to a question on the complaint by NPP supremo Prof Bhim Singh regarding misuse of administrative machinery and posting of a Returning Officer in Reasi district, who happened to be relative of the local Minister, Mr Sampath said the Election Commission has taken cognizance of the complaint and directed all Election related officers to maintain strict neutrality.
“As far as the posting of the officers at native places is concerned, a mechanism is already in place for removal of such officers,” he said.
Bhim Singh had complained to the Chief Election Commissioner that Deputy Commissioner, Reasi Dr Shahid Iqbal Choudhary was “misusing administrative machinery” for the Congress candidate as he was relative of a local Minister of the Congress. Prof Singh had demanded immediate removal of the Deputy Commissioner from the post if the Election Commission wants to hold free and fair elections.
Asked what action the Election Commission has taken with regard to fake and bogus votes being prepared in Haryana and New Delhi by Booth Level Officers (BLOs) and agents as exposed in a sting operation by a news channel, Mr Sampath said: “the Election Commission has taken cognisance of it. We are concerned more than anyone else about the purity of the elections.”
The CEC further said: “those employees against whom prima facie evidence has been proved, have been placed under suspension. Investigation has also been started regarding any fake name.”
“It is not clear whether it is a prospective action or they have already done it, but still all those will be reviewed. Wherever such wrong names have been included, we will take all measures to prevent them from voting,” he said.
Mr Sampath said during his meeting with registered political parties this morning, he received a series of complaints and suggestions for hold smooth, free and fair elections for six Lok Sabha seats in Jammu and Kashmir, which would be held in five phases from April 10 to May 7.
He said the Election Commission has directed District Magistrates and police officers to initiate prompt action against reports of poll code violations, following political parties’ complaints of slow response.
“Political parties also complained that officers are not taking action with regard to major poll code violations. One party brought to the notice a case in which a minister was asking the electorate to take oath on Quran… Such kind of thing,”Mr Sampath said.
Regarding the violations of the Model Code of Conduct, District Magistrates were asked to take quick remedial action.
“…If the prompt action is not taken, the aim of the MCC will be lost,” the CEC said, adding that “even in the case referred to by a political party, we have asked the DM to submit a report to the Chief Electoral Officer immediately”.
“We expect a report within 24 hours at the Commission. On the receipt of the report, we take further action,” he added.
“Officers should not act partially. They should be impartial… Some parties said that the complaint redressal mechanism was not working satisfactorily,” the CEC said.
He, however, praised the efforts of Election Department in making arrangement with regard to overall poll measures.
Regarding security and emergency plan, he said the poll authorities are prepared for any contingency.
He said there were complaints from the political parties of bias against some parties as hoardings, banners etc of selected parties only were being removed by the Election Department officials while the major parties have been spared of the action.
“There was a complaint by a political party that they had submitted a written complaint to the Election Department about a Minister (Sakina Itoo of National Conference), who was whipping up religious sentiments for securing votes (by using a religious book). The party complained that despite submission of a written complaint to the Election authorities, no action has been initiated against the Minister,” he added.
He said he has issued directions to the Election officials and the District Magistrates to ensure that there was no partiality in removal of hoardings, posts etc and the elections should be held without any fear and favour.
Asserting that the Election Commission has noted with satisfaction, the arrangements made for the general elections in the State by the Election Department, the Chief Election Commissioner said a contingency plan has been put in place to ensure free and fair elections.
He said there were also complaints that there was no uniform policy adopted by the Election authorities on use of party flags by the political parties and that officers were not acting on the complaints submitted by them even on major violations of Model Code of Conduct, like a Minister using a holy book to get votes.
“Only smaller parties are being targeted. There was a general grievance that big parties were using party flags,” he pointed out and called upon the officers to ensure that the elections should be conducted in free and fair manner and there should be no complaint of discrimination.
Mr Sampath said the Election Commission has acceded to a valuable suggestion given by the political parties that there should be an alternate Electronic Voting Machine (EVM) in remote areas of the State as in the event of failure of the EVM it could take a long time to replace it.
“We will be keeping an alternate EVM in all remote polling stations so that if the existing EVM didn’t work, it was replaced immediately by the second EVM,” he added.
The CEC announced that photo voter slips would be distributed in the State five days before the date of election, which was also part of a suggestion given by the political parties. He said suggestions also came up for separate queues for men, women and suitable facilities for physically handicapped on the day of voting, which have been acceded.
Mr Sampath said some candidates wanted that shadow expenditure registers being maintained by the Election authorities of all candidates should be shown to them so that they could tally their expenditure.
“The candidates wanted to know variation in expenditure recorded in their own register and shadow register maintained by the Election Department so that they (the candidates) didn’t exceed the limit of Rs 70 lakh fixed by the Election Commission,” he said, adding some of the candidates also complained of lack of adequate security. He said all candidates should be given protection during the election campaigning.
Mr Sampath said some of the District Magistrates told him that the roads leading to the polling stations were damaged. “I have directed the authorities to ensure construction of roads before the elections so that the people could travel easily to the polling stations”.
On instances of intimidation, he said the District Magistrates have been directed to identify the vulnerable hamlets and take action in advance against suspected intimidators for ensuring free and fair elections. He said mobile police parties and Sectoral Magistrates would visit vulnerable areas on the day of polling to maintain neutrality and impartiality of the elections.
Mr Sampath said adequate security has been given to the States and authorities should take steps to maintain law and order and initiate Confidence Building Measures (CBMs) among the people so that they turn out in good number to exercise their right to franchise. He said the Election Commission has also increase polling hours from 7 am to 6 am, the longest spell ever.
To a question of low ratio of new voters in Jammu and Kashmir as compared to other parts of the country, Mr Sampath said the ratio has now improved to 40 per cent as against 18 to 19 per cent earlier. Admitting that the ratio was still low as it was 60 to 70 per cent in some parts of the country, he said Jammu and Kashmir would pick up with other States shortly.
Mr Sampath said there were 69.33 lakh electorates in the State but the number could go up slightly as continuous updation of the electoral rolls was still on. He said J&K has 9633 polling stations and 92.66 per cent photo electoral rolls.
Earlier, the Commission held a series of meetings with the Chief Secretary, Director General of Police, Special DGP and Home Commissioner.
Umang Narula accompanied the ECI during the meetings.
The Commission also held a detailed meeting with the Returning Officers/DEOs and SSPs regarding the election preparedness and obtained the necessary feedback from the viz-a-viz election preparedness and other related issues.
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