Congress wants Central forces to stay for counting

Congress wants Central forces to stay for counting
BSF men prepare to leave; Admn petitions
EC to extend their stay
Rajay Deep
Tribune News Service

Bathinda, May 14

Days before the counting of votes in this 'high profile' Lok Sabha seat begins, removal of the BSF jawans from the strong rooms where the EVMs have been kept, has led to a new controversy.
Though the district administration claimed no role in the development, but the Congress workers took offence and immediately brought the matter to the notice of the Election Commission of India and the Chief Electoral Officer (CEO), Punjab.
Sensing the gravity of the situation, the administration too contacted the ECI and the CEO to tackle the situation.
Meanwhile, the Returning Officer and the SSP, Bathinda, deputed the same number of state police jawans in place of the BSF jawans who have been removed.
Apprehensive, the Congressmen have mobilised their own partymen to observe the movement around the strong rooms.
Getting nod from the RO, District Congress (Rural) president, Narender Bhaleria,
among others, made a surveillance of all the strong rooms and deputed his men
at each centre.
Clarifying his position, Returning Officer for the Bathinda Lok Sabha seat, Deputy Commissioner Rahul Tewari said, "It was not my decision as the Central forces are deputed by the Union Home Ministry. About 2-3 days back, the SSP received a letter for relieving the Central forces but we pleaded for their stay till the counting was over. No reply was received from the department concerned."
"Today, some officers of the BSF approached the SSP saying they would catch
the train by 4 am on Friday, if no written order is received. We immediately brought
the matter to the notice of the EC and CEO but are still awaiting orders from their
side," he added.
When contacted, SSP Ashish Chaudhary said, "I have been verbally asked to retain them but till 8 pm, I did not receive any orders in writing. I have been told that the Union Home Ministry has issued orders to the Director General of BSF, from where the order would reach us by midnight."