By Our Reporter
SHILLONG: The Election Commission of Meghalaya has sought a clarification from former Chief Minister and UDP president Dr Donkupar Roy on his recent comments with regards to enrolment of voters in the State.
Informing this here on Thursday, Chief Electoral Officer Prashant Naik said that the EC has sought for and obtained a clarification on the comments made by the UDP president.
It may be reminded that at a public meeting at Pynursla in East Khasi Hills district on May 6, Dr Roy had stated that if his party comes to power after the 2013 Assembly election, it would ensure that non-genuine citizens are not allowed to enroll their names in the voters’ list and acquire land in the State.
He had also stated that it was totally unjustified that people who do not have EPIC card in their home states come all the way to Meghalaya to obtain an EPIC card.
“We would want people from other states of the country to exercise their franchise in their respective states,” Dr Roy had said.
Meanwhile, when contacted, the former Chief Minister said that he had only stated that those people who had already registered their names in the voters’ list in their respective states should not enroll their names again in the State.
“Our state is filled with illegal immigrants. Why should we allow non-genuine citizens to dominate our indigenous community which has a small population?” Dr Roy said.
Stating that the EC does not understand the ground reality, he said, “We would not like to see the State facing a situation akin to Tripura and Assam where the local indigenous population has been outnumbered by illegal immigrants”.
