Tuesday, September 20, 2011

SGPC polls: Despite complaints, election body rules out re-polling

CHANDIGARH: Glaring violations in the elections for representatives of Shiromani Gurdwara Prabandhak Committee (SGPC) notwithstanding, the Gurdwara Election Commission has ruled out re-polling at any place in Punjab. This, despite the fact that over 300 complaints have been made to the Commission, many of these pertaining to violence. 

"We cannot take cognizance of media reports showing clean-shaven Sikhs or those with cut hair casting votes as it is not possible to establish the veracity of these pictures," said Sukhdev Lal, election commissioner coordinating SGPC polls. Officials at the Gurdwara Election Commission are pointing to the rule book, Gurdwara Act, to rule out re-polling. "The margin of the winners at two places where re-polling is in question in Muktsar is huge. In such a scenario, re-polling will not be done since only 1200 voters were left when the polling was suspended," he said.

Reports regarding bogus votes being cast, non-Sikh casting votes, booth capturing, firing, scuffles have been completely shrugged off by the Gurdwara Election Commission. "The polls were peaceful and there have been hardly any untoward incidents," said Sukhdev Lal.

Meanwhile, much political heat is being generated by various political parties over alleged misconduct during SGPC polls. Congress president Amarinder Singh and Sukhbir Badal`s cousin Manpreet Badal have slammed the SAD BJP government for stage managing the show. In retaliation, Sukhbir Badal, who is more in euphoria since this is the first election after his taking over reins of the party, trashed the misconduct report Referring to allegations of the two leaders regarding the conduct of the poll, Badal said that it appeared to be a classic case of the pot calling the kettle black.

Even as Congress party blamed SAD for violence in the religious polls and sought immediate resignation of the chief minister, Sukhbir pointed accusing finger at the Congress. "It is the Congress and its supporters who tried to create confusion by resorting to high handedness, impersonation, bogus votes and other cheap tricks like that," he said.

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