UPA sharpens attack on EC observer, seeks apology

An RJD-led UPA delegation to Nirvachan Sadan today demanded an immediate apology from the Election Commission8217;s special observer in Bih...

An RJD-led UPA delegation to Nirvachan Sadan today demanded an immediate apology from the Election Commission8217;s special observer in Bihar, K J Rao, for his alleged remark against the Muslim community in Bhagalpur district, which the delegates said caused 8216;8216;humiliation and anguish8217;8217; among Muslims.

During an inspection visit to Bhagalpur district, Rao reportedly refered to a neighbourhood as a 8216;8216;Pakistani mohalla8217;8217;.

Following the meeting at the Commission, Congress party8217;s Bihar election in-charge Digvijay Singh said that Rao had reportedly remarked during an inspection of Bhagalpur town and Nath Nagar. 8216;8216;Angry and anguished, the Muslim community has decided to boycott the election until and unless Rao apologises for his remarks and take back his words,8217;8217; Singh said.

Describing the alleged remark as a 8216;8216;very serious matter8217;8217; that the EC should probe, Singh said that repoll should be conducted in polling booths nos 46, 47 and 50 of Bhagalpur constituency.

8216;8216;Reports appearing in the media are clear indications of Rao crossing his limits and trying to humiliate a particular community. His reported comments for a particular community is also damaging the EC8217;s image of impartial custodian of the election affairs,8217;8217; Singh added.

Sources in the EC, who were involved in conducting a probe into the poll boycott in some booths in Bhagalpur town and Nath Nagar, called the allegation 8216;8216;absolutely baseless8217;8217;. 8216;8216;Although the EC will again look into the matter since there8217;s been a complaint, this kind of allegation are being brought as a reaction against the fact that the area was marked 8216;hypersensitive8217;,8217;8217; the EC sources said.

Central paramilitary forces had been deployed in the 8216;8216;hypersensitive8217;8217; area as two Muslim candidates8212;an independent and an RJD candidate8212;were pitted against each other creating tension among the voters, EC sources said. 8216;8216;When we went to probe the boycott, some of the voters claimed that they found the marking of their constituency as 8216;hypersensitive8217; as humiliating as they felt they were being treated as anti-social elements. There was no other allegations,8217;8217; the EC sources said.

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The delegation8212;Union Minister Prem Chand Gupta of RJD and AICC secretary Ranjit Thomas and Singh8212;demanded a compensation of Rs 5 lakh to Pappu Singh, who was killed in the BSF firing during the second phase of polling. They also demanded a government job for the victim8217;s elder brother and a case be registered against guilty officials.