Seeking to check allurement of voters through alcohol, Election Commission on Tuesday asked the Delhi Government to declare 48 hours preceding elections and the duration of the polling as ‘dry days’ in Delhi, going to the Assembly polls on 7 February. This will include the dates of repoll, if any, EC said. The Commission also said that on 10 February, the date on which counting of votes is to be taken up, will be declared a ‘dry day’ under the relevant laws in the State.
The EC also directed Secretary (Personnel) in the Central Government and Chief Secretary of Delhi to ensure that February 7 be declared a ‘paid holiday’ for the voters of Delhi. It said those residing or working outside the State but registered as voters here also get a ‘paid holiday’. “The daily wage/casual workers are also entitled for a holiday and wages under Section 135B of the Representation of the People Act, 1951,” the EC direction issued recently said.
The EC warned that if an employer contravenes the provisions, then such a person “shall be punishable with fine, which may extend to Rs500.” The poll panel clarified that the provision of paid holiday will not apply to any elector whose absence may cause danger or substantial loss in respect of the employment in which he is engaged in.
In a separate directive, EC said liquor in any form cannot be sold, given or distributed at a hotel, eating house, tavern, shop or any other place — public or private — within a polling area, “during the period of 48 hours ending with the hour fixed for the conclusion of poll for any election in the polling area”. In other words, no liquor will be available from 6 pm of February 5 to 6 pm of February 7. The same rule will apply on February 10, the counting day.
The EC said storage of liquor by individuals will also be curtailed during the dry period. The entire ITBP operation which foiled the nefarious design of the terrorists was planned by Singh and the 23 commandos under him displayed tremendous bravery and raw grit by killing one fidayeen attacker near the boundary of the Consulate General of India and eliminating three others in the vicinity, thereby, averting a grave danger to the officials present inside and the Indian facility at large.
An AK-47 assault rifle, an under barrel grenade launcher, six caches of live magazines (one magazine can hold about 30 bullets), four hand grenades, 17 live RPG rounds and a packet containing dry fruits were recovered from the terrorist who was killed amid clear indications that they had plans to take consulate officials hostage.
The ITBP is mandated to secure the Indian embassy in Kabul and its four consulates in Jalalabad, Mazar-e-Sharif, Kandahar and Herat. The force is tasked for securing the Indo-China border and it also renders a variety of duties in internal security domain, including conducting anti-Naxal operations in the left wing extremism-affected State of Chhattisgarh.