Other States - Punjab   

Badal flays EC for inaction in Ajnala

By Our Staff Correspondent

CHANDIGARH, FEB 19: The Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) president, Parkash Singh Badal, today accused the Election Commission of India of being "totally absent from the scene'' in the lone by-election for Ajnala assembly constituency in Punjab, where polling is scheduled for February 23.

In a letter to the Chief Election Commissioner (CEC), copies of which were released to the media, Mr. Badal said the Commission's attitude raised serious doubts about its role as a custodian of the democratic process by ensuring free and fair poll in the country.

After the Haryana Chief Minster, O.P. Chautala, who also heads the Indian National Lok Dal (INLD), Mr Badal is the second leader of a regional party, to take an extremely critical view about the functioning of the Election Commission.

Incidentally, both parties had an alliance in the recent elections in Haryana.

"It appears as if the Commission were proceeding on the assumption that its role was limited to the polling day alone. If that is so, nothing could be more tragic for the future of democracy, at least in this part of the country,'' he said expressing shock at the manner in which the Election Commission had failed to check rampant "goondaism" by the ruling party.

The SAD chief charged that anti-social elements and lawbreakers were having a field day under official patronage.

Printer friendly page  
Send this article to Friends by E-Mail

Other States

News: Front Page | National | Tamil Nadu | Andhra Pradesh | Karnataka | Kerala | New Delhi | Other States | International | Business | Sport | Miscellaneous | Engagements |
Advts: Classifieds | Employment | Updates: Breaking News |

Stories in this Section

Punjab seeks permission to export wheat directly
Badal flays EC for inaction in Ajnala

Copyright © 2005, The Hindu. Republication or redissemination of the contents of this screen are expressly prohibited without the written consent of The Hindu