The Hindu : EC team urged to put off Gujarat poll

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Sunday, Aug 04, 2002

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EC team urged to put off Gujarat poll

By Our Special Correspondent

AHMEDABAD Aug. 3. A delegation of prominent citizens today called on the observers of the Election Commission currently on a tour of Gujarat, opposing early elections to the State Assembly.

A memorandum signed by them and representatives of voluntary organisations working for the welfare of the riot victims contradicted the ruling BJP's claim of the situation being "conducive'' for holding elections and said it was far from being normal and would not allow the voters to exercise their franchise with a free and open mind.

Virtually demanding the removal of the Narendra Modi Ministry as the caretaker Government, it said a free and fair election could not be expected under the same administration, which was accused of complicity in the recent carnage. It also cited the prevailing drought conditions, during which thousands of affected people migrated to greener pastures looking for jobs and succour, as the reason for delaying an election in the State pointing out that the State Government itself had postponed elections to some panchayats and local self-government bodies for the same reason in the last two years.

Like the Pradesh Congress, which submitted a memorandum yesterday opposing early elections, the citizens' council also pointed out that a thorough revision of the electoral rolls was necessary before the elections as many people had left their homes both during the riots and after the earthquake last year and such a revision would not be possible in such a short time.

It wanted the Commission not to consider holding of elections at least till February, next year, when they were originally scheduled and said the undue haste being shown by the ruling party for early elections "smacked of its intentions to gain political mileage from the bloody, charred remains of the recent genocide.''

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