SHILLONG: The Returning Officer Pravin Bakshi has lodged an FIR in connection with the circulationof hate pamphlet allegedly by Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) ahead of by-election to Tura Lok Sabha seat.
Bakshi filed the FIR after the All India Congress Committee (AICC) lodged a complaint with the Election Commission stating that a large number of pamphlets were distributed in the name of RSS targeting Christianity.
Later, a case was registered by the State police under Section 153(A) of IPC which prohibits promoting enmity between different groups.
The Returning Officer also asked the investigating officer to conduct an inquiry also under Section 125 of Representation of People’s Act, 1951.
Though the Congress had claimed that RSS was behind the distribution of hate pamphlet, in his FIR, the Returning Officer, however, is silent in this connection.
When contacted, Bakshi said that it was a general FIR against mischief mongers.
According to Congress, the pamphlet terms Christianity as a samasya and the mission and purpose of the distribution of pamphlet is for gharwapsi.
Commenting on the circulation of hate pamphlets, the Chief Electoral Officer Frederick Kharkongor said that the Returning Officer (RO) had asked the flying squad and the surveillance team to ensure the seizure of the pamphlets so that their circulation does not affect the polls.
” It is yet to establish who is distributing the notices and the matter will be investigated as the RO had already held a meeting the police in this regard”, Kharkongor said
BJP may lodge complaint against Bakshi: Meanwhile, BJP is planning to lodge a complaint with the Election Commission of India against Returning Officer Pravin Bakshi over recent events that unfolded during the election campaign, our Tura correspondent adds
The BJP had sought permission from the RO to hold a rally at Phulbari on Friday evening where its minority morcha president Abdul Rashid was scheduled to address the gathering. “The permission was rejected by the RO who cited that since we are not contesting the elections we cannot hold a rally. When we informed him that our party is supporting the NPP which is a part of the NDA alliance he sought a declaration on that. Only after we sought a written order from his side was the permission given at the 11th hour,” informed BJP leaders. They further pointed out that a show-cause notice was issued to the party on an allegation levelled by the Congress against the use of the BJP symbols by their own leaders in campaigns by the party. “Since we are a separate party from the NPP and campaigning for their candidate we had every right to hold rallies to mobilize support for them. There was no violation of the model code of conduct and we replied to the notice,” said Meghalaya BJP spokesperson Biplop Bose expressing his displeasure over the manner in which the RO handled the election campaign.
