Just as the controversial movie highlighting Punjab’s drug problem underwent Censor Board’s scissor, AAP’s video raising various issues afflicting Punjab has suffered nearly dozen cuts by the Election Commission before the party use it for campaigning.
An hour-long video was prepared by the party for campaigning highlighting issues like drug problem, farmers’ suicides, sacrilege incidents, atrocities on Dalits. However, the poll panel imposed 10-12 cuts on the video before giving its nod to the party for using in election campaign.
“After imposing 10-12 cuts, approval has been given to the AAP for its video,” said a senior officer in Punjab Chief Electoral officer's office on Tuesday.
The Commission has ordered the party to delete the contents depicting “personal attacks” on Punjab Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal, Deputy Chief Minister Sukhbir Badal, cabinet ministers Bikram Singh Majithia and Sikandar Singh Maluka in the video.
Besides, directions have also been issued to remove the scenes of dead bodies of farmers who allegedly committed suicide and youth allegedly died because of drugs, the official said.
“We have taken up the problem like atrocities on dalits, farmers' suicides, drug problem among youth,” an AAP leader claimed adding that the party had also tried to expose how the state government “completely failed” in nabbing the perpetrators of sacrilege incidents that had rocked Punjab.
“In this video, victims of drug problem can be seen narrating their problems,” AAP leader said adding that the party intended to show this video to the people of Punjab during election campaign.
EIGHT COPS TRANSFERRED
Election Commission on Tuesday transferred eight police officers, including an IGP rank officer in poll-bound Punjab.
Naunihal Singh will be Inspector General of Police (law and Order), while Gurpreet Singh Gill will be the new Commandant of Indian Reserve Battalion (IRB) at Patiala, an official said.
The other police officers shifted are of Punjab Police Service (PPS) cadre, he said, adding that Diljinder Singh will be the new Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCP) Amritsar while Mandeep Singh has been posted as the DCP ludhiana.
REMOVE MINISTERS’ PICTURES
The Election Commission of India has asked the State poll machinery to either cover or remove photographs of political leaders on all hoardings and advertisements which seek to project the achievements of any living political functionary or political party.
Issuing the fresh directions by reiterating its instructions issued on December 12, 2004, the poll watchdog said that photos in advertisements or hoardings of similar type should also be removed or “covered suitably” so that spirit of its instructions is fully complied with.
The EC, however, made it clear that hoardings put up by the government which convey general message to the masses on family planning or social welfare schemes “may be allowed to be displayed”.
“However, all those hoardings, advertisements which seek or purport to project the achievements of any living political functionary or political party and which carry their photos or name or party symbol should be removed forthwith...No political party or functionary can use public resources and incur or authorise expenditure from public exchequer to eulogise himself or itself or enhance his or its own or any political leader's image,” it said.
The poll panel made it clear that such images or hoardings “undoubtedly amount to their individual or party election campaign at public cost”.
CRACKDOWN ON INTOXICANTS
Static surveillance team, flying squad, police and independent excise officers are working to curtail the influence of drugs, alcohol and cash during Punjab elections, said the Election Commission on Tuesday.
ECI informed that two entities, the flying squad and static surveillance team, have especially formed to combat it. “These have been formed since the time Model Code of Conduct has come into place. 451 flying squads and 504 static surveillance teams have been activated in Punjab, which work round the clock,” said ECI official.
Assuring that all the divisions are working together to mitigate the influence of drugs and alcohol during elections, the official said: “Static surveillance team, flying squad, police and independent excise officers are working to enforce code of conduct and to minimise the influence of drugs, alcohol and cash during the elections.”