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Journalism of Courage
Chief Election Commissioner J.M. Lyngdoh today clarified his statements on observers at the coming Assembly polls and I-cards to voters.
8216;8216;These I-cards will be optional,8217;8217; he said. 8216;8216;To exercise franchise, it will not be mandatory to produce an I-card.8217;8217; He said the coming Assembly polls were of international significance and 8216;8216;I don8217;t want to be mistook or misquoted8217;8217; over foreign observers. 8216;8216;I have decided not to open my mouth,8217;8217; Lyngdoh said. He showed a copy of the official release denying the use of foreign observers and said: 8216;8216;Take this paper as an official version.8217;8217;
The release clarified Lyngdoh8217;s view that observers did not mean 8216;8216;foreign observers8217;8217;. He was mentioning the Election Commission8217;s reliance on media reports, including those of the 8216;8216;foreign media8217;8217; who would have access to polling stations.
It further said: 8216;8216;The EC will not invite anyone to function as observers for J-K elections. But if any individual, who is associated with the conduct of elections in his/her country which has good democratic credentials, then in his/her individual capacity, he/she can come to see the election, subject, of course, to the person8217;s getting necessary government clearance.8217;8217;
Lyngdoh had met representatives of political parties and assured them of curbing bogus voting. He said today that unlike the rest of the country, people in J-K would have to approach electoral officials with their photographs for I-cards. The cards would be helpful during security checks and for getting passports.
Lack of infrastructure was hampering efforts to prepare I-cards, he said. Against the necessary software of 60 control tables, the state has only six. On taking action against securitymen who coerce people to vote, Lyngdoh said: 8216;8216;I have no such reports of people being coerced.8217;8217;
