Southern States - Tamil Nadu   

Cong. wants EC to deploy CRPF at Sattankulam

By J. Venkatesan

NEW DELHI Feb. 19. Apprehending ``largescale violence, bogus voting and booth capturing'' in Sattankulam in Tamil Nadu, where a byelection is to be held on February 26, the Congress has urged the Election Commission to deploy the Central Reserve Police Force there.

In a memorandum submitted to the Chief Election Commissioner, J.M. Lyngdoh and two Commissioners, T.S. Krishnamurthy and B.B. Tandon a delegation led by Oscar Fernandes, the party drew the Commission's attention to ``blatant misuse of official machinery by the ruling party, violating all political norms and model code of conduct.''

The delegation, which included G.K. Vasan, B.S. Gnanadesikan, Sudarshan Nachiappan, Mani Shankar Aiyar, Ahmed Patel, MPs, and Ramesh Chennithala, told the Commission that the most serious aspect was the mobilisation in large numbers of ``rowdies'' and ``anti-social elements'' by the ruling AIADMK from the neighbouring districts.

Speaking to The Hindu, Mr. Gnanadesikan said that Mr. Lyngdoh and the two Commissioners had told them that the Commission would look into the complaints and take a decision soon.

The memorandum stated that Ministers and ruling partymen were camping in villages with deadly weapons and fire arms and three days ago, a country-bomb exploded and one resident was seriously injured.

People, especially women, were being scared by the huge presence of strangers.

Also ``the Ministers are freely roaming in the constituency with tonnes of money and gift articles and distributing money in lakhs for construction of temples, churches and community buildings.

Sarees, churidhars, cricket bats and footballs are being distributed through the Social Welfare Department with the assistance of Women's Self-Help groups,'' it alleged.

``When the Congress and other Opposition party workers questioned this unethical, unlawful and undemocratic action of the ruling party and the Ministers, they were being manhandled and threatened,'' the memorandum said and pleaded for the early deployment of the CRPF to ensure free and fair elections.

Mr. Gnanadesikan said they had brought to the Commission's notice the opening of new savings bank accounts in post-offices and cooperative banks in the constituency in the names of fictitious persons for being used as identity for casting votes.

The Commission, which had already taken a decision not to allow the certificates issued by the Revenue Department and the Slum Clearance Board, had assured them that it would consider the request.

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