LUCKNOW, February 8: In an extraordinary decision, the Election Commission today debarred a Uttar Pradesh Minister from entering Pratapgarh district till the end of Lok Sabha polls saying his presence was creating a serious law and order problem.Chief Election Commissioner Dr M S Gill told mediapersons here that since State Programme Implementation Minister Raghuraj Pratap Singh alias Raja Bhaiya was not a candidate in the coming poll his presence in the district was not warranted.Reacting to the EC's directive, Raghuraj Singh termed it as ``biased'' and a ``partial one''.In reply to a question regarding the FIRs lodged against the Minister in the case, Gill said he had instructed police officials to pursue them vigorously and take action according to law.Asked whether the district administration will take action in the matter, he replied, ``The first information report lodged with police has to be acted upon''.Gill said he had checked with the commissioner and the deputy inspector general ofpolice and felt that it was a very ``disturbing thing'' that a minister should be involved in a dispute with policemen on duty. He said the ministers were expected to assist and cooperate with police and administrative officials rather than getting themselves involved in disputes.Addressing a press conference at the end of his visit here, he said the time has come when the country must ponder over the question whether there should be a ``neutral'' government at least two months before the elections for ensuring free, fair and peaceful polling.``The present system, inherited from the British, worked alright in the early years of free India but things have since changed a lot with all sorts of tensions political and social, in the country,'' he said.When asked whether he thought the Uttar Pradesh Government should be suspended for the period of elections in view of the opposition parties' apprehensions that elections in the State will not be free and fair, he said, ``Such an eventuality had alreadyoccurred in Bangladesh when the constitution had to be amended for installation of a neutral government for having elections in a manner to the satisfaction of both the contending political parties''.``We should also think whether such a step can be taken or checking the alleged malpractices, including the use of official machinery,'' he added.Gill said members from all the parties in the 12th Parliament should work together for evolving steps for checking criminalisation of politics. The Parliament was the law making body and the Election Commission could only work for the implementation of the laws, he said.``At present, we can only take action under Section 8 of the Representation of the People Act,'' Gill said.
