CEO seeks Neiphiu Rio’s clarification
IMPHAL, April 2: Nagaland chief minister Neiphiu Rio has been asked to clarify his statement criticising Manipur chief minister Okram Ibobi Singh and his government as anti-Naga, said the chief election officer, O Nabakishore.
According the state chief electoral officer, Nagaland chief minister has been asked to clarify his statements made during political conferences held in support of the Naga People’s Party in some hill districts of Manipur.
Nabakishore was addressing media persons at his office chamber at Old Secretariat this evening.
When questioned on the steps undertaken by the CEO regarding NPF candidate for the lone Lok Sabha seat of Nagaland Neiphiu Rio’s speech, Nabakishore said all concerned deputy commissioners of the districts where Neiphiu Rio had made his statements during the recent political campaigns have also been asked to submit their reports.
If any inflammatory statements made against the Manipur chief minister or his party are found in the reports of the concerned DCs, the state election commission will send a report to the Election Commission of India requesting action against the Nagaland CM for breaking the Election Code of conduct, he said.
According to the Newmai News Network Nabakishore disclosed that the alleged communal speeches made by chief minister of Nagaland Nephiu Rio at election campaigns organised at Senapati and Ukhrul districts and a complaint regarding it filed by Congress legislator, N. Biren has been taken up as suo moto and a report has been culled from concerned deputy commisioners for the fact finding regarding the matter. The white paper regarding it will be produced and necessary actions will be taken after the findings, stated Nabakishore, according to the news agency.
Anyone can get details of polling stations, electoral rolls, assembly segments by sending a SMS to a dedicated mobile number introduced from this year, he had told media persons today.
One has to simply type ‘poll’ and after a space the ‘EPIC number’ and send the SMS to 8119099899, he elaborated.
The Manipur CEO also said that a helpline number- 1950 has been provided for the public to collect poll related information and lodge a complaint which will be passed for observation to the concerned DCs and SPs, he said.
All measures for the free and fair conduct of the polls for the Outer Manipur Parliamentary constituency have been taken up, he said.
Other teams have also been formed for inspection of the polling stations, he said.
Further continuing on the state election office’s preparedness, he said poll details will be updated every hour on the commission’s website. The details will be collected through SMS from the various polling stations, he observed.
The Indian Air Force has also assured to provide four helicopters as was appealed by the CEO to be used to lift EVMs from the remote and interior parts of the state, he said.
The IAF has also identified the places where the helicopters will land and assured to keep the EVMs in their strong rooms.
During the last election, the only 60 polling stations were monitored for any untoward incident through video live feeds, however, this year altogether 150 locations would be monitored through video live feeds this time, he said.
The state election office has also received 56 satellite phones from the BSNL for use in the interior parts of the state where there is no landline connection, he said and added that the state election office is awaiting another 140 phones.
Altogether 79 companies of para military forces along with the state police will be deployed at the polling stations and all para military companies have arrived in the state, Nabakishore told media persons.
The state election office has also instructed the State Excise department to check the sale of alcohol in the state to check the use of alcohol, money and muscle power during the election, he said.
The CISF has also been instructed to check any suspicious cash transfer in the airport and to report any such misdemeanour to the Income Tax department.
He also said that the state election office will also write a letter to the DGP Manipur to enquire whether all the Licence gun have been deposited to the concern DC of every district
He also appealed to all the newspaper against publishing any kind of advertisement of any political party which don’t have proper certification provide by the Media Certification Monitoring committee CEO Manipur.