EC seeks CD of Badal’s speech seeking funds
Tuesday, 15/04/2014
http://www.tribuneindia.com/2014/20140415/punjab.htm#1
Chandigarh : In a significant development, the Election Commission (EC) has sought from the Punjab Chief Electoral Officer (CEO) a recorded CD of the meeting in Jalandhar on Thursday wherein Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal had reportedly asked industrialists to fund SAD-BJP candidate Pawan Kumar Tinu's campaign.
Sources said the CEO office received a call from the EC in the afternoon.
As a routine, the CEO forwards reports to the EC following feedback from the districts. But in this case, the EC has sought the CD directly before any report went from the CEO office.
The District Election Officer, Jalandhar, is also learnt to have received a copy of the reply from the Akali Dal in the evening. The SAD is learnt to have said: "Badal made the comment at the end of his speech during his interaction with industrialists only in a lighter vein. As such, he has not flouted any code of conduct".
The CD shows Badal to have said: "Parde naal davo, samane na davo (give secretly, not openly)."
He also said, "Tann, mann atte teeji ik gall hor vi hundi hai… oh tussi vi samjho, us vich vi maddad karo. Bada aukha kam hunda hai… karoran rupaiyya kharch hunda hai (besides physical and emotional support (for Tinu), there's a third thing too… please understand and help with it. Electioneering is a tough job and requires crores)."
School buses seized
The Hoshiarpur District Election Officer has sent notices to different schools from where at least 50 buses were deployed for ferrying public during Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal's rallies at different places on Saturday, it has been learnt.
BJP candidate Vijay Sampla has also been issued a notice. Election rallies were held at Dasuya, Mukarian and Hoshiarpur.
New initiative
The EC has launched a unique initiative of 'Electoral Roll Search Facility' to enable voters to search their names and polling stations in the nationwide electoral rolls.
This service could be availed through internet on mobiles, tablets or computers, and SMS through mobiles. A voter can, by typing his EPIC number, not only confirm his polling booth but also the way leading to that booth.
