Haryana Chief Secretary Keshni Anand Arora says the central government has approved 120 companies of Central Armed police Force (CAPF) personnel for the Assembly polls scheduled to be held on October 21. As per the necessary Election Commission of India (ECI’s) guidelines, all the preparations regarding State Assembly elections have been completed. The 1983 Haryana cadre IAS officer, who was appointed as the State’s Chief Secretary on June 30, has been conducting first Assembly election as a Chief Secretary. She said the State Election Commission has taken all the possible measures to conduct the election free, fair and transparent in the State.
In an exclusive interview with The Pioneer, the Chief Secretary reveals State’s preparations for the Assembly polls. Excerpts from the interview
What are the steps being taken to conduct free and fair election in the State? How challenging the Haryana Assembly election is going to be?
As per the guidelines of the Election Commission of India, State Election Commission has taken all necessary steps to conduct free and fair election in the state. Law and order in the state is under control. All the district Returning officers have been given necessary instructions regarding the election. Senior police officers have been directed to intensify police patrolling and go for constant checking of the inter-district and inter-state posts apart from putting police team active and alert.
How many polling booths and polling centres are sensitive and ultra sensitive in the State?
The sensitivity of polling booths during election depends on various factors like crime graph, communal tensions, political turmoil and character of the candidates. Senior police officers have already been directed to take all means to keep things under control as far as the sensitive and ultra- sensitive polling booths are concerned. They must act in accordance with the records of the past elections. The chief electoral officer has already directed the returning officer and senior police officers to make and finalise the list of the vulnerable and critical polling booths in the State and such report soon will be released. According to sensitive of the polling booths and polling centres, State police along with central police forces in adequate in numbers will be deployed to conduct peaceful election in the State. Voters should freely exercise their vote in the Assembly election.
It has been seen that political parties are using all means to win the election. Money and muscle power are commonly used. What are the steps being taken regarding this issue?
As per the ECI’s guidelines, the returning officers and police officers have also been directed to ensure that during the elections, no candidate or party influences the voters by giving them any kind of freebies in order to get their votes. As per Commission guidelines, instruction has been given to every officer that they should go to the field and identify such areas and booths which fall under the category of expenditure sensitive constituencies and pockets.
Political parties are now using social networking sites in a large scale to woo the voters. To prevent the party leaders and workers seeking votes in the name of caste, religion or any derogatory materials, what are the steps being taken by the authorities concerned?
Regarding the same issue, the chief electoral officer gave all the necessary instructions as per ECI’s guidelines to all the returning officers and police officers. An FIR can be registered under the IT Act, if any candidate or political party uploads any video in favour of caste, religion or any derogatory material on the YouTube channel, violating the Model Code of Conduct, during the election.
Haryana shares its boundary with of several states Uttar Pradesh, Delhi, Punjab, Himachal Pradesh and others. What are steps being taken to conduct fair election?
The CEO has already directed the deputy Commissioners and Superintendents of Police of the districts to keep a close vigil on the police check post across the State and also speed up the submission of license arms process. The officers should keep a check on the illegal liquor and cash movement. During the inter-state police check post, the officers should have proper coordination with the neighboring states to maintain law and order. The police officers should intensify police patrolling and go for constant checking of the inter-district and inter-state posts apart from putting flying squad and static surveillance team active and alert
How many companies of Central Police forces the State would be needed to conduct free and fair Assembly election? As per report, State had sought 200 companies of CAPF from the Centre. How many companies of CAPF have been approved?
The central government has approved 120 companies of CAPF personnel for the Assembly polls. We have sufficient police forces in the State. Police personnel will be deployed based on sensitive of polling stations.
What are the preventive steps being taken ahead of Assembly polls?
To ensure smooth conduct of the Vidhan Sabha elections, State Police had already launched a crackdown on wanted criminals and notorious elements in the State. This drive was aimed at arresting criminals and to unearth illicit arms/liquor/narcotic substances throughout the State. All the Commissioners of Police and district Superintendents of Police have been directed to nail down the warrantees, other criminals and notorious elements in their respective areas. The special drive was focused on arrest of proclaimed offenders, bail jumpers, parole or furlough jumpers, most-wanted criminals, convicts who have not surrendered after rejection of their appeals by different courts, bad characters, unearthing of illicit arms, seizure of illicit liquor and narcotics substances and execution of non bailable warrants. All out efforts were being made to prevent and control heinous crime by intensifying police patrolling and maintain vigilance in the State. State Police will continue to vigorously enforce the law, pursue the campaign against drugs and prevent crimes to ensure safety and security of people.
Illegal drugs and liquor is being used during elections. What steps have you taken to put a check on it?
Huge quantity of drugs worth crores of rupees has also been seized in the recent few months. The returning officer and senior police officers have already been directed to intensify police patrolling and go for constant checking of the inter-district and inter-state posts.
What are the other steps have been taken regarding peaceful elections?
Instructions and guidelines have been given to the returning officers and police officers and they should implement it strictly. Election will be conduct in a free, fair and transparent manner in the State. Mode code of conduct during the election will be implemented strictly. No one will be allowed to take law in their hands at any cost. Instruction had been earlier issued for senior police officers that the police station officers would conduct verification drives in hotels, other commercial establishments and residences in various localities to stop undesirable elements from staying in their jurisdiction.