EC clarifies use of school grounds
New Delhi: A day after the Congress moved the Election Commission protesting Narendra Modi’s plan to visit two educational institutions in Varanasi on Thursday, the poll panel on Wednesday came out with a five-year-old order saying grounds of such institutions can be used provided studies are not hit. Modi plans to visit the two institutions when he files his nomination papers. The EC uploaded on its website a March, 2009 order which states that if schools and colleges are to be used for campaigning, the academic calendar should not be disturbed “under any circumstances.” The order also States school or college management should have no objection to this purpose and prior permission for such campaigning should be obtained from the school management and sub-divisional officers.
Complaint against Mistry over pamphlet
Vadodara: The police on Wednesday registered a complaint under relevant sections of IPC against the Congress candidate from Vadodara lok Sabha constituency Madhusudan Mistry for publishing an allegedly defamatory pamphlet against Narendra Modi, his rival and BJP’s prime ministerial candidate. Police inspector Munaf Pathan of Manjalpur police station registered the complaint. The pamphlet accuses Modi in the context of corruption and also refers to the snooping scandal involving a young woman architect. Mistry, however, denied the pamphlet broke any law and claimed it had been vetted by the Election Commission fifteen days ago. He demanded transfer of the District Collector and the city Police Commissioner for their “partisan” attitude.
EC seizes Rs 240cr in cash, liquor
New Delhi: Stepping up its efforts to prevent the use of blackmoney and other means to influence voters during the ongoing lok Sabha elections, the Election Commission has so far seized Rs 240 crore in cash and crores of litres of liquor and drugs. According to the latest data released today by the poll panel, officials at the ground have seized Rs 240 crore in cash, including Rs 102 crore in Andhra Pradesh, Rs 39 crore in Tamil Nadu and Rs 20.53 crore in Karnataka.