Sandeep Bhat
JAMMU, Mar 12: The model code of conduct is being adhered to strictly in Jammu and Kashmir according to the State election office as it has not received any complaint of its violation, a week after it was implemented across the country, on March 5, 2014.
It is however ironical that while the chief electoral officer Umang Narula denied having received any complaint officially, newspapers are abuzz with reports of MCC violation such as Ministers using their official vehicles with red flag and beacon on; the official media publishing statements of Ministers praising Government schemes and welfare initiatives, inauguration of a school in Miran sahib by a Minister; a public function being addressed by another Minister in Akhnoor, transfer orders in education department issued with back dated dispatch numbers and several others. These reports indicate that either the monitoring committees constituted by the election office are oblivious of the facts on ground or have deliberately chosen to turn a blind eye.
The CEO however appealed all the stake holders to adhere to the MCC. He also informed that the maximum cases of MCC violations have been reported in states of Punjab and Kerela.
The hoardings of several ministers still displaying at several places, senior ministers PRO accompanying PSO meant for the said ministers, illegal voters (i.e. people from UP, MP, Chhattisgarh etc. and from Bangladesh and Burma nationals participating in electoral process in J&K, is at not a grave violation of model code of conduct? |
