The functioning of the Punjab Chief Electoral Officer (CEO) VK Singh may be brought under the scanner of the Election Commission of India (ECI) by the Congress which alleged him for “playing into the hands of the ruling coalition” — the allegations brushed aside by him with a smile.
Former Chief Minister Amarinder Singh on Friday lashed out at the CEO for his “partial and biased conduct”, and rather asked him to have “moral courage and perform his duties as is expected of a senior and responsible official or demit office”. To this, ‘open-eyed’ VK Singh smilingly reacted, “What can I say on thisIJ”
Amarinder stated that it was on the Punjab Pradesh Congress Committee (PPCC) to move the ECI, and “they would be doing so soon”.Terming Singh as a “weak fellow”, Capt Amarinder, earlier in the day, stated that his conduct smacked of partiality and partisan approach devoid of independent thinking and action expected of a senior official entrusted with such an important responsibility.
In a letter to the CEO, Amarinder, while citing the instances support to state DGP Sumedh Singh Saini, and permission to allow Badal’s picture on ration cards, accused him of supporting the Akali-BJP Government ahead of lok Sabha elections and not acting on “complaints from the Congress and other opposition parties”.He also charged the CEO with not taking any action against guilty officials in the seizure of bicycles with Badal’s photographs in Sangrur.
‘COMPlETE BAN ON NEW RATION CARDS, THEIR DISTRIBUTION’
Reacting to allegations, Singh clarified that it was a misconception that he had allowed distribution of new ration cards with pictures. “There are clear-cut instructions that no new ration cards would be prepared, or distributed…there is a complete ban on the same,” said Singh.
As the ration is being distributed to those beneficiaries who already had their cards before the code came into force, Singh said that the Commission has sought guidance of the ECI to take final call on the issue.
“We have asked the Secretary Food and Civil Supplies to submit a detailed report regarding total beneficiaries having received card prior to code, remaining number of beneficiaries who were yet to get their cards also along with the details of wheat already distributed to them so that we could get the balance number who are yet to get the ration, and the report would be sent to ECI for further directions,” he added.
Singh stated that it was only on late Thursday evening that the first complaint of distribution of ration under Atta-Dal Scheme was received. “Patiala MP Preneet Kaur complained that the Government authorities are distributing grains on old cards with pictures for six months in advance. Anandpur Sahib MP Ravneet Bittu has also submitted his complaint but with no specific area,” said Singh assign that concerned Deputy Commissioners have been asked to inquire.
NO POll SPEECH DURING HOlA-MOHAllA
Making it clear that no political speeches would be allowed during Hola-Mohalla fair at religious places, Punjab CEO informed that the Commission has proposed to the ECI to allow SAD to hold its political conference at SGPC’s land “outside Gurudwara complex”. “The event will be video-graphed as the Commission has received the complaint. Such conferences also held during 2009 elections’ time, but here the issue is that the Congress has submitted a complaint,” he added.
All ‘POlITICAl’ REFERENCES TO BE REMOVED FROM OFFICIAl WEBSITES
Election Commission of India has directed to remove all references to Ministers, politicians, or political parties available on official websites during lok Sabha 2014 poll process.
25,261 ARMED lICENCES DEPOSITED
Till date, 25,261 armed licences have been deposited, said the Punjab CEO. He added that the district police chiefs have been directed to expedite this process of depositing of arms.