The Hindu : National : NC demands repoll in 13 booths

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Wednesday, Apr 28, 2004

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National

NC demands repoll in 13 booths

By Shujaat Bukhari

SRINAGAR, APRIL 27. The National Conference has demanded a re-poll in 13 booths in the Srinagar parliamentary constituency and alleged highhandedness on the part of the ruling People's Democratic Party (PDP).

Denying that he was involved in bogus voting yesterday while he was arrested, Ali Mohammad Sagar, senior NC leader, told presspersons that three Ministers of the ruling coalition "in violation of democratic norms and election code" indulged in `rigging' at various places and police were "mute spectators to the whole exercise."

He said he was not arrested and police instead told him that he was being taken into preventive custody. He alleged that the Minister of State for Home who was in charge of law and order was busy making rounds of the polling booths.

Mr. Sagar, who is representing the Khanyar Assembly segment, was the chief polling agent of the NC candidate, Omar Abdullah. He challenged the Director-General of Police to prove that there were bogus voters. He denied that an FIR was filed against him and claimed that the Presiding Officer concerned did not lodge a complaint. Instead, the police beat up NC workers and put them in lockup without any justification.

Mr. Sagar said that under election rules the chief polling agent should not be arrested, plus the arrest of a sitting MLA needed the permission of the Speaker. "No rule was followed," he said.

Addressing mediapersons here, the senior National Conference leader and former Minister, Ali Mohammad Sagar, said a delegation of National Conference leaders was meeting the Election Observer and the Chief Electoral Officer to lodge a complaint against the PDP president, Mehbooba Mufti, and demand a re-poll in the 13 booths.

Flanked by the NC leaders, G.N. Mir Lasjan and Sheikh Ghulam Rasool, Mr. Sagar said the PDP was scared of the popularity of the National Conference and that was why it ordered the police and civil administration to create an atmosphere that would prevent the voters from venturing out.

"The PDP wanted a boycott in Srinagar which would vote in favour of the NC. And my arrest would have an impact as I am an MLA and was chief polling agent. It was done just to create a scare among the people," he alleged.

Mr. Sagar said the role of the police had become suspicious and "we want the Election Commission of India to take cognizance of that."

He said the NC leadership had brought these apprehensions to the notice of the Chief Election Commissioner, T.S. Krishnamurthy, during his visit to the State and "we have been proven right."

The PDP had made plans to use the police force for its political interests. "It has blackened the face of democracy," Mr. Sagar alleged.

The NC leaders asked Ms. Mehbooba in what capacity she unveiled a "respectable woman voter at a polling booth in full public and media view. Has it not exposed the Mufti who is talking about honour and dignity of Kashmiris, particularly women."

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