EC issues notice to Himachal CM
Shimla,
Nov
14:
The
Election
Commission
(EC)
has
issued
a
showcause
notice
to
Himachal
Pradesh
Chief
Minister
Virbhadra
Singh
for
asking
poll
officials
to
''behave
properly.''
The
notice
was
issued
to
Mr
Singh
after
the
Commission
received
a
report,
which
said,
that
after
a
vehicle
with
a
beacon
light
was
detained
on
Saturday
(November
10)
the
Chief
Minister
told
the
Kinnuar
Deputy
Commissioner
and
the
SP
to
''behave''
properly
as
he
had
posted
them
in
the
district.
The Commission said during Mr Singh's meeting with the observers, two days later, on Monday he had told them that ''detaining of the vehicle fitted with red light was illegal on the part of the DC and SP''.
''The model code of conduct is not a law and I know what the law is,'' it quoted the Chief Minister as saying.
Observing that his remarks were a case of blatant interference in the election process, the Commission said this amounted to threatening and intimidating poll officials.
The EC has sought Mr Singh's reply on the issue by 1100 hrs tomorrow.
UNI