Haryana police book AAP leader in Kaithal district | India News – Times of India

KAITHAL: Few days after Aam Aadmi party held a protest in Kutubpur village of Kaithal district alleging using of unfair means in the ongoing lok sabha elections, Haryana’s Kaithal police booked it’s leader under various sections of IPC and others. Police lodged an FIR as per the complaint lodged by Sushil Kumar, assistant returning officer (ARO) of Kaithal district, reads FIR.
Senior State Vice President of Aam Aadmi Party Anurag Dhanda held a press conference on Monday. “He said we were contesting the elections thinking that we were contesting the elections against BJP and the public was also participating thinking that we were contesting the elections against BJP. But now it seems that we are contesting the elections against the Election Commission and the Election Commission has also become a candidate against the Aam Aadmi Party. I am saying this because according to the tradition till now, if the Election Commission is alerted about any discrepancy in it, then the process is immediately rectified. But for the first time in the history of elections, an FIR is being lodged by the Election Commission against the same person who exposed the shortcomings of the Election Commission,” he added.
He said it cannot be denied that from the first day when we applied for permission for the rally, abuses were written against us. Why is this happening again and again from this office in Kaithal? Even after that, the attitude of the Election Officer in Kaithal is clearly understood that the Election Commission officials are working here as representatives of BJP by becoming a party. I want to place this matter before the public that we had earlier complained about this matter to bring it to the notice of the Election Commission. But today I have a lot of questions on this matter and I want to know how the Election Commission will answer it?
He said when voting was done through ballot papers, we had said that there was no seal on this ballot box. In return, the Election Commission filed an FIR against Master Satbir Goyat, who made the video of that ballot box, saying that he has obstructed the government work. Sections 171, 186, 131 and 132 of IPC have been imposed in this FIR. The Election Commission should tell that if this ballot box is not sealed, then it is the fault of Satbir Goyat or the Election Commission. In this, the ballot paper being cast is being cast by the voter with his own hands or by some official. We will present this attitude of the Election Commission before the public and will also complain about it to the Central Election Commission.
He said our first question is whether it is right not to seal the ballot box as per the procedure? If this is true then why were votes cast at other places by sealing the ballot boxes. Those officers who got the votes cast after getting sealed are right or those who got the votes cast without seals are right. After the voting, does any officer have the power to take the votes into his own hands? What is seen in this entire video is the Election Commission official who has put this ballot paper in the ballot box, which is not sealed. The election officer took the folded ballot paper from the voter and put it in the envelope himself.
He said we have a request to Chief Electoral Officer Anurag Aggarwal that we had given him a complaint earlier also which he had taken seriously and this time also when we complained, he had assured that he will look into the matter and take action. He said we want to ask whether the election officials of Kaithal are following the instructions of CEO Haryana or are running the elections as per their wish. Can the election officer of Kaithal give a public statement that whether a box is sealed or not, he will do as per his wish in the general elections and if anyone makes his statement public, then file an FIR against him.
He said the election officer of Kaithal should also tell that on the day of polling, our booth agent has to sit with tape on his mouth. If any wrongdoing happens then whether to speak against it or not? The Election Commission will have to clarify this situation. This is a very serious matter and there is anger in the entire Lok Sabha constituency regarding this. If you have to contest elections by putting us in jail, then we are ready for that also. We will wait what action the Election Commission takes on this. Otherwise we will also announce our next step. If we have to openly raise our voice and agitate against it, we will not step back. Because this is openly playing against the democracy of the country.
He said the way the election officials of Kaithal are working, there is anger among the voters of the entire Kaithal. People are saying that this theft should be stopped with immediate effect and action should be taken. Apart from this, we are also receiving many complaints from the families of the employees regarding the Form 12B which is made to be filled by the employees. About which we will further inform the Election Commission and appeal for its intervention. We have come to know that Forum 12B is being taken for signatures and is not being tick marked by the voters. He is a government employee so he is not able to raise his voice.
He said we clearly say that the Election Commission should immediately cancel this FIR. The Election Commission should look into how to get it cancelled. Because today the administration comes under the Election Commission and action should be taken against the concerned officials who were casting votes in unsealed ballot boxes. Senior officials of the Election Commission in the district who are giving patronage to all these officials. Action should be taken against all of them. Because this is clearly a very important step to protect democracy and the Constitution. We demand the intervention of CEO Haryana and Central Election Commission in this matter.