Delhi chief electoral office asks EC to take against AAP

The city chief electoral office recommends Election Commission of India on Monday to take strict action against Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) supporters and their leaders Shazia Ilmi and Ashutosh for illegally carrying out violent demonstration outside BJP headquarters five days ago.

The chief electoral officer Vijay Dev said that they have sent a ‘fact finding report with recommendation’ to the Chief Election Commissioner after he collected from New Delhi district election officer. We have also written to police to take legal action against all the errant supporters and leaders and have also sent recommendation to Chief Election Commissioner to take action for breaking model code of conduct,” Vijay Dev said.

The officer said that they have also got the Delhi Police report. The police report also suggest that AAP protesters indulged in ‘riotous acts’ and used criminal force to prevent police from discharging their duty.

The police report stated that four policemen, 16 AAP workers, nine BJP workers and a media person were injuries during the scuffle.

The officer said that they were not satisfied with the party’s reply to the show cause notice issued to them. 

“They undoubtedly violated model code of conduct and their reply too did not were satisfying,” said another electoral officer.

Now the election commission will initiate inquiry into the matter and would summon the party leaders for election. “After that only they will take action against the party leaders. The final decision will be taken them as to what action could be initiated against AAP,” said the officer.

The officer said that the party in their show cause notice had replied that they went there of demonstrate peacefully over their party leader Arvind Kejriwal’s detention in Gujarat and it was BJP who got violent and not they.  

“They also had stated that the protest was an instant reaction to Kejriwal detention and it was not a planned protest and they fully respect the model code of conduct,” the officer quoted AAP’s reply.  

In the meantime, the officer said that to conduct fair election in the city they have directed Excise department to check all the farmhouses and bordering areas to curb the flow of liquor. “We have also asked them to check the sales alcohol of licensed liquor shops. If any liquor shop sale jumps up by 30 percent compare to last month then they would be under scanner,” said the officer.    

To check the flow of black money used for polls, the officer said that the income tax department has been advised to check every transaction made of Rs 10 lakh and above. “They have also been advised to keep eye on hotels, farmhouses, railway stations, bordering areas and airports to keep eye on cash inflow in the city,” added the officer.