Election dept asks voters to ignore HNLC bandh call

SHILLONG: In the wake of the poll boycott threat of the banned HNLC, the Election Department on Sunday asked the voters to come out in large numbers to effect high percentage of votes on April 9 like in the 2013 Assembly polls.
Though the HNLC had called a similar bandh during the 2013 Assembly polls, it failed to evoke any response with the final poll percentage clicking 80.06.
The HNLC has called a 12-hour bandh from 5 am on April 9, saying that it has lost faith in the Indian political system.
State Chief Electoral Officer P Naik said on Sunday that people should come out in large numbers like the Assembly polls to elect their representatives to the Parliament.
“The bandh will not have any effect on the polls as people of the State had always resisted such moves especially during the polls,” Naik said.
He, however, said that the Government has made elaborate security arrangements and assured that there was no cause of worry either in Khasi Hills or in Garo Hills.
Reacting to reports that he had threatened to arrest people who are boycotting the elections in West Khasi Hills, Naik said that he had not issued any direction in this regard and added that what he had meant was that action would be taken against those who intimidate voters from casting their franchise.
“The people have the freedom to cast their votes or abstain from voting, but intimidation or preventing people from voting is not acceptable as it is a criminal offence”, Naik asserted.