CEC issues stern warning to Punjab administration

Chandigarh, Jan 9: The Election Commission of India (ECI) has issued a stern warning to the Punjab administration, asking them to be ''fair and neutral'' in the conduct of the elections to the 117 assembly seats and the lone Amritsar Parliamentary seat to be held on February 13.

'' We have asked them to be neutral and fair, or else we will take action'', Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) N Gopalaswamy said, addressing a media conference here today.

Flanked by Election Commissioner (EC) S Y Quraishi, Deputy EC, R Bhattacharya and the Punjab Chief Electoral Officer Sundram Krishan, the CEC said that they were constantly watching the situation and ''if need arises we will take action''. The EC will keep reviewing the situation in Punjab periodically, he added.

Admitting that the ECI had received complaints from opposition parties against state DGP S S Virk, Mr Gopalaswamy said that they had expressed aprrehensions against the DGP and certain other officials. ''However these are just apprehensions'', he said when mediapersons asked whether the DGP would be shifted.

''We have advised the right quarters on matters relating to the free and fair conduct of the elections'', he added, while refering to his meetings with the state Chief Secretary K R Lakhanpal and the electoral officers.

The CEC pointed out that during his meeting with the political parties yesterday he had received numerious complaints,including one pertaining to the distribution of back dated cheques in a particular area of Punjab. '' We have ordered an inquiry in this matter and action will be taken accordingly'', he added.

Assuring that adequate police force would be made avaliable for the elections, Mr Gopalaswami said that sufficient companies of the Para Military Forces (PMF) are being deployed in the state. Half of these companies would reach Punjab before January 30 and the remaining by February seven, he said while refusing to disclose the exact number of PMF companies being stationed in the border state.

The Deputy Commissioners and SSP's had been categorically instructed to take strict action against those who violate the model code of conduct, he said. A few vacancies of returning officers still exist in the state and instructions had been given to fill these, he added.

Turning to the complaints received from political parties particularly the Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) and its ally the BJP, the CEC said that it had been brought to his notice that certain political parties had not received the lists of the updated electoral rolls. Instructions had been given to the CEO to supply these copies to all political parties by January 15, as in some parts of the state the updated copies were not avaliable, he added.

Till the time the updated copies are not printed, the district electoral officers will supply soft copies of the rolls in the form of CD's or photostat copies to the political parties, he added.

The CEC said that all political parties had been instructed to adhere to the Defacement Act and remove all hoardings and posters from public places. On the complaint of opposition parties instructions had also been issued to the state government to halt the distribution of the New Year calendar carrying the Chief Ministers photograph and in case it had already been distributed, then it should not be displayed in public, he added.

UNI