Briefly Punjab

EC issues fresh norms

CHANDIGARH: The Election Commission of India has issued fresh guidelines for enrolment of voters who are between the age of 18 and 21 years. It said that such voters would have to produce documentary proof of age at the time of enrolment as a voter. Kusumjit Sidhu,Chief Electoral Officer,Punjab said here today that the citizens would have to show birth proof certificates issued by Municipal Authorities or the district office of the Registrar of Births and Deaths or Baptism certificate at the time of enrolment. Sidhu said that a personal declaration by applicants or by their parents would also be accepted in those cases where applicant was not educated up to class 10th. In such cases the electors would have to appear personally for verification before the Booth Level Officer and Electoral Registration Officer. She said that no document of proof of age was required in cases where age of applicant was more than 21 and that in such cases,a self-declaration of the voter’s age will be taken as proof of age.

Khaira complains against CM to CEC

CHANDIGARH: Congress MLA Sukhpal Singh Khaira has given a complaint to the chief election commissioner against the chief minister for misusing social welfare schemes in the state for “electoral gains”. In his complaint,Khaira said the chief minister through unwritten instructions has got his photographs affixed on these schemes,along with a slogan painted in blue and yellow colour,the official colour of Shiromini Akali Dal party. By doing so,the Chief Minister is trying to influence the beneficiaries of these schemes in favour of his own party,the Shiromini Akali Dal for the ensuing 2012 elections in Punjab. The complaint has requested that in order to ensure a free and fair elections to the Vidhan Sabha in 2012,it is highly imperative that the Election Commission intervene and have photographs of the chief minister removed from these social welfare schemes without any further delay.

AISSF campaign

JALANDHAR: All Indian Sikh Students Federation (AISSF) and Sikhs For Justice have announced they will start a ‘civil disobedience’ movement from July 15 to press for the release of Davinder Singh Bhullar and to return him to Germany.