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Thursday, Nov 15, 2007
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EC notice to Virbhadra Singh

Special Correspondent

His statement “amounts to intimidation”

New Delhi: The Election Commission has slapped notice on Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister Virbhadra Singh for using two government vehicles fitted with beacon lights and sirens during his poll campaign without obtaining permission.

The Commission also took exception to his bringing a private vehicle from Shimla for the campaign without prior permission.

In its notice, the Commission said, “It has received a report that even after the district administration’s action under the relevant provisions of law and the instructions of the Commission with regard to the use of red light-fitted vehicles during election campaigns, two government vehicles were still used as pilot vehicles fitted with sirens and beacon lights during your campaign on November 11 and 12 which is in violation of the Commission’s instructions.”

The Commission also received a report that, during a meeting with its observers on November 12 at Kinnaur, “You [Chief Minister] are stated to have told the observers that detaining the vehicle fitted with red light was illegal on the part of the Deputy Commissioner and the Superintendent of Police and you further stated that you had cautioned the DC and SP to ‘behave properly’ as you only had posted them in the district; and you are further stated to have remarked to the observers that the ‘Model Code of Conduct is not a law and I know what the law is.’

“The Commission considered the issue and is of the considered view that your statement to the observers that you had cautioned the DC (DEO) and SP to behave properly and that you had reminded them that you only had posted them in the district was a case of blatant interference in the election process and amounted to threatening and intimidating election officials involved in the election process; and the Commission has taken a serious view of this whole matter.”

The Commission has asked the Chief Minister to send his reply by 5 p.m. Thursday.

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