NAGPUR, January 29: Election offences were registered against the Rashtriya Swayamsewak Sangh, Bharatiya Janata Party, Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad and Shiv Sena by district authorities after the model code of conduct for Lok Sabha elections came into force on January 1.A case of rioting was registered against RSS activists, who clashed with Congress Sewa Dal workers staging dharna at Badlkas Chowk in protest of the RSS chief Prof Rajendra Singh's alleged derogatory remarks against Sonia Gandhi earlier this month. Three cases were registered against the BJP, one against Sena in city and two against ABVP at Umrer under the provisions of Maharashtra Prevention of Defacement of Public Property Act. In addition, two cases were registered against BJP workers under section 127-A of Representation of People Act for printing publicity material without mentioning printer's name.
District Collector Malini Shankar, who briefed newsmen about the poll preparations, said a total of 13 cases were registered inNagpur and 10 in Ramtek constituency. When asked whether expenses incurred in organising a spate of programmes by RSS and BJP in city since January 1, would be added to the election expenses of BJP nominees, she said the issue has already been referred to the EC. Among the programmes referred to the commission included RSS `Mahashibir', BJP's Dalit Parishad, Netaji Subhash centenary rally and a programme organised in city to project the achievements of Nitin Gadkari as Public Works Minister. The Collector said 60 teams equipped with video cameras are already trailing the leaders of major political parties attending public functions in the district.
She also released the poll programme for Nagpur and Ramtek conastituency, saying that the process has now been made stricter with the EC delegating more powers to the observers, who would remain present at the time of scrutiny of papers and also visit at least 30 per cent of polling stations. Police Commissioner P K B Chakrabarty, who was present at pressconference, said political parties have been asked not to organise public meetings of `seriously threatened personalities' after sunset.
Parties would be required to furnish names of party workers who would be welcoming such leaders at railway stations and airport, and also of those who would be present on dais at public meetings. Parties have been advised not to make last minute changes in the programmes of such leaders and not to arrange their roadside public meetings. These directives have been issued following an observation by the Verma Commission that political parties were not discharging their duties regarding the safety of the leaders who have been placed in `Z' and `Z-plus' categories.
Copyright © 1998 Indian Express Newspapers (Bombay) Ltd.
