Ahmedabad, Nov 11: Chief Election Commissioner J M Lyngdoh today asked the Gujarat government to submit a detailed report within a day or two on the proposed `Vijay
yatra' to be flagged off by VHP from November 15.
He told reporters here that any decision on banning the yatra would be taken only after receipt of the report.
Lyngdoh said that he had asked DGP K Chakravarty to prepare a detailed map "showing places affected during communal riots and could be sensitive during the electioneering process.”
Lyngdoh said that elections in Gujarat were being closely monitored by the international community and thus "credibility of Indian democracy is involved".
He said "the first question the international community will ask is whether adequate opportunity is being given to the riot-hit people."
"On this, I have told the officials we are not going to accept any diluted stand," Lyngdoh said.
The other commissioners T S Krishnamurthy and B B Tandon said that the EC is in touch with chief electoral officers of Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan, Maharashtra and Uttar Pradesh to ensure postal ballot facilities for those people of Gujarat who have migrated during or after the riot.
Asked whether he was satisfied with the approach of the
bureaucracy vis-a-vis what was it during his earlier visit in
August, Lyngdoh said, "Well, at least people have realised that they have got a serious job to do.”
He also ruled out suggestion for changing the polling
date due to large number of marriages on December 12 saying that the request made by BJP women wing has no support.
Bureau Report
