Tura poll: Centre sanctions 10 cos of Central forces
SHILLONG: The returning officer for Tura Lok Sabha seat Pravin Bakshi has issued a notice to Congress candidate Dikkanchi Shira for her alleged hate speech against BJP during an election rally.
The Chief Electoral Officer Frederick Kharkongor said on Friday that a clarification was sought from the Congress candidate regarding the comments as reported in the media to know whether it is a violation of model code of conduct.
On May 2 in one of the campaigns at Dadenggre , Shira had said, “NPP and the BJP have an agreement for five years in which they would leave Tura for the NPP. But the NPP would be working on the BJP agenda. The BJP cannot protect minorities like Christians and Muslims”. Shir had also said that it was only the Congress who stood for minorities.
Following the media reports, the BJP on May 4 had issued a statement to the media that stating that it was a violation of model code of conduct and tantamount to hate speech.
“We have not received any official complaint from the BJP, but taking cognizance of the news reports in this regard, the returning officer had sought clarification on Thursday”, the Chief Electoral Officer said.
Earlier, Basu Chakraborty, the spokesperson of the state BJP had said that the statement not only violated the model code of conduct, but tantamount to hate speech which attract criminal liability.
10 cos of Central forces: Though the state government had sought 33 companies of Central paramilitary forces, the Centre has sanctioned only 10 companies to ensure law and order for the Tura Lok Sabha seat.
The Chief Electoral Officer Frederick Kharkongor said on Friday that the Ministry of Home Affairs has communicated to the election department on Thursday that it would send only 10 companies.
“We have refereed the letter of MHA to the home department and the police to make an assessment whether the state can manage with the 10 companies”, Kharkongor said
There are already 19 companies of central para- military forces already in Garo Hills mainly engaging in anti insurgency operations and they will also be deployed for election duty.
