The Election Commission of India (ECI) on Saturday asked political parties not to hold any conference either close to religious institutions or on grounds which are property of the institutions.
A spokesman of Office of Chief Electoral Officer, Punjab, said they have received a communiqué from ECI that political conferences should not be held on the occasion of religious festivals like Holi and Holla Mohalla. Drawing the attention to the Religious Institutions (Prevention of Misuse) Act, 1988, it was said in the communiqué that all the political parties and candidates should be advised to desist from using religious places or religious occasions for election.
The spokesman said that concerned DEO has been asked to bring this to the notice of the political parties and candidates immediately. Earlier, a delegation of Shiromani Akali Dal met Chief Electoral Officer (CEO) VK Singh resenting the delay in granting permission to hold conference at Sri Anandpur Sahib on March 16 to mark the occasion of Holla Mohalla and demanded immediate permission.
Reiterating that conference at Sri Anandpur Sahib is an annual affair, the party questioned that why the Election Commission has kept this matter pending for such a long timeIJ
In a memorandum submitted to CEO, Prem Singh Chandumajra, General Secretary and Daljeet Singh Cheema, Secretary and party spokesman brought to the notice of Election Commission that the SAD has taken the ground on rent from the Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC) after paying the agreed amount against a proper receipt.