Voters’ registration drive in city
SHILLONG: The UDP Shillong City Unit has urged the East Khasi Hills district authorities to take stringent against to prevent enrolment of dubious voters in ongoing enrolment drive conducted by the Election department.
“We have impressed upon the district authorities to take stringent action against any dubious voter. All these dubious voters who were detected by the department during the enrolment drive should be deported back,” UDP Shillong City working president Jemino Mawthoh told newsmen after meeting district Deputy Commissioner Sanjay Goyal here on Thursday.
According to Mawthoh, the district administration had admitted there many applicants have been detected with doubtful credentials and their applications for enrolment were rejected.
Mawthoh said that the issue of illegal immigration and influx has always been a matter of great concern since it was posing a threat to the very existence of the local people.
He also said that the various traditional bodies and organizations have also expressed their concern over the possibilities that illegal immigrants may get enrolled in the electoral rolls.
“I will like to urge the traditional bodies including the NGOs to raise objections if they come across any people with doubtful antecedents during the hearing. There is no legal binding on raising such objections,” Mawthoh said. He, however, maintained that the party was not against enrolment of genuine Indian citizens.
Interestingly, the UDP leader said that the Deputy Commissioner had also indirectly hinted that certain politicians were encouraging illegal registration of doubtful voters for their political interests.
Meanwhile, Mawthoh also informed that the party will be raising the issue during the upcoming Winter Session of the Assembly from November 21. “We will be raising this issue in the form of a resolution,” Mawthoh added.
The UDP has also sought clarification on the process involved in the online registration for enrolment of voters.
On this, the Deputy Commissioner assured that the district administration has taken adequate steps by ensuring that the applicant submits all valid documents while applying for online registration, Mawthoh informed.
The Deputy Commissioner further assured that a system has been put in place for verification of the applicants’ documents by officials of the department.