By Staff Reporter
ITANAGAR, May 03: Former minister-cum-Nacho assembly constituency Congress candidate Tanga Byaling on Friday staged a peaceful protest in front of Upper Subansiri district electoral officer (DEO).
No action has been initiated for re-polling of Lengi and Dingsar polling stations (PSs) under Nacho assembly constituency despite representation submitted to the authority concerned, Byaling said while addressing the protestors.
Though the Election Commission of India (ECI) had issued an order for re-polling in both PSs, but the election process was not transparent as guidelines were compromised, he said, adding though the state is under the rule of the BJP Govt, but the Govt officers should not work under the influence of politics..
Speaking on the freedom and rights of every individual in a democratic country, Byaling said, “Every individual has a right to practice adult franchise rights but Govt agents have deprived many voters under the influence of politics.
Expressing his displeasure against the DEO for restricting numbers of protestors up to 30, he questioned: “What kind of right do we have here, when the protest or dharna has to be decided by the DEO?.
Instead of trying to control the protestors, DEO should have initiated action against the polling team for violating the ECI guidelines, he reasoned.
“We have evidence that many Govt officers were found to be involved in illegal activities during the re-polling process,” Byaling said, adding that till the demand for re-polling and action against those erring officials are met, the democratic movement would continue.
,”They (polling team) are the one who undermined the ideals of the election conduct rules of 1961, who in fact allowed the para military personnel with arms inside the PSs to create an undue pressure on the electoral system,” Byaling claimed/
The protesters were not fake voters or double voters, rather they demanding their rights, he said, adding that the polling team is the one which disobeyed the conduct of election rules by not providing form 17C to polling agents. Polling team is the one who did not discharge their duties sincerely by violating Representation of the People Act 1951 and Conduct of Election Rules 1961, he added.
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