Governor needs to Act and Advise
The State Election Commissioner Mr P S Pandyan admitted that it was
"upto the police" to take action against the culprits involved in
the poll violence as the Commission had to depend on the State apparatus
for security arrangements. The DMK-led front and Congress front leaders
met the Governor, Dr. C. Rangarajan, separately and urged him to direct
the State Election Commission to order repoll in booths where ruling
party men indulged in malpractices. The entire press wrote on the
malpractices. The allegation is that the ruling party men "with the
connivance'" of the Chennai police and Ministers had indulged in large-scale
malpractices (booth capturing and bogus voting) in civic polls especially
in Chennai. The State Election Commissioner said that the Governor
could not issue a directive to him in this regard. Of course, Election
Commission is an independent body and the Governor can not interfere
in discharging their duties. However, when the law and order of the
State is at peril, Governor has all rights to ask for details and
issue instructions appropriately. Presiding officers of more than
one station lamented lack of security, including the traumatic experience
of women officials. In many places, the miscreants brandished knives
at the officers to terrorise them. The gang members did not know that
the papers would have to be counter-signed by the polling officers,
before being cast. After all these, the least that is expected is
that the State Election Commission should instruct the counting authorities
to reject the ballot papers that do not carry the signature of the
concerned electoral officer.
Suffocating Constitutional Machinery
The minister's open contemptuous remarks casting aspersions on Supreme
Court Judges and maligning them with remarks such as that the judgement
to unseat Jayalalithaa was bought for a price clearly show that for
the sitting Cabinet "Amma" alone matters and not the law of the land.
The AIADMK party men and their alliance parties stifled and subverted
the democratic process to subserve their own party's interests to
snatch a verdict in their favour so that this can be projected as
the consistency of people's support to "Amma" and the party (after
the Assembly election). If the allegation that the violence during
civic election had the blessings of the Police and the ministers has
any substance, it tantamounts to breakdown of the constitutional machinery
in the State. The questions as to why the Governor was not available
in the State capital when the state went in for the Civic poll and
why the police higher officials and the state Election Commissioner
were not available in their offices to receive complaints on the polling
day are remain unanswered. The Prime Minister during his recent visit
to Chennai has admitted that the law and order has worsened in the
Sate and something needs to be done about it. This should not remain
a statement made out of "political exigency". The Centre should watch
closely the events happening in Tamilnadu.
Unpreparedness
The reports also say that in connection with the Prime Minister,
Mr. A.B. Vajpayee's visit to Chennai to attend the wedding of the
son of his party president Mr Jana Krishnamurthy, policemen on election
duty belonging to both Kancheepuram and Chengalpattu (East) districts,
were withdrawn and deployed in the city. Pazhavanthangal was one of
the centres in Chennai, which witnessed violence. The local police
inspector suffered bleeding injuries when a mob pelted stones near
the subway. At Nehru Government Boys School, Jaigopal Garodia Vidyalaya,
Modern School, the police were hardly a match for the local AIADMK
supporters. These personnel remained mute spectators at the booths
as thugs went about intimidating the voters.
Press Attacked - As Usual?
Journalists were also not spared by the armed groups who manhandled
photographers and threatened TV crew who attempted to film the action
at Pazhavanthangal. A photographer of The Hindu covering the civic
polls at Alandur was attacked by a group of AIADMK volunteers, who
had assembled on 39th Street at Naganallur. A group surrounded the
photographer, Mr. C. K. Suresh, blindfolded him, before snatching
his camera and accessories. He was punched on his face, despite his
pleas that he had not taken a snap at the spot. Local party functionaries,
who were nearby, rushed to his rescue and led him to safety. Though
the 'body' of his camera in a damaged condition was handed back, the
lens, flash and film rolls were found missing from his bag, which
was torn open by the group. A photographer of Dinamalar (Tambaram
office), Mr. K.Ramesh, who followed The Hindu journalists, was also
targeted by the mob. However, a party volunteer immediately handed
his camera back after tearing away the film roll from the camera.
When senior AIADMK party functionaries knew the attack on The Hindu
journalist, they repeatedly offered to make good the loss. However,
a complaint was lodged with the Pazhavanthangal police. Though police
authorities were informed of the incident immediately, it was reported
that a police team came to spot only after three hours. The Madras
Union of Journalists, the Madras Reporters Guild and the Chennai Press
Club condemned the attack of journalists and demanded action against
those responsible. ....more
