BJP demands strict vigil outside CM’s residences, other places
| Date :23-Apr-2019 |
Staff Reporter RAIPUR:
In a major complaint made with the Election Commission of India, the Bharatiya Janata Party has demanded institution of special vigilance teams and general observers at the official residence of Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel at Civil Lines, his original residence situated at Bhilai-Charoda and NIC building situated in Civil Lines along with posting of central security forces with camera recording facility. The complaint, copies of which were marked to Chief Election Commissioner Sunil Arora, Election Commissioner Sushil Chandra, Chief Electoral Officer Chhattisgarh, Director (Investigation) Department of Income Tax, General Observer Raipur Lok Sabha constituency, Expense Observer Raipur Lok Sabha and District Electoral Officer Raipur, it was alleged by the Bharatiya Janata Party that it has got specific information that for contesting Lok Sabha elections the Chhattisgarh unit of Indian National Congress is collecting funds worth crores which for management and disbursement among candidates for election expenses, is being done from above three places, where funds worth crores are being collected in the name of election ‘Chanda’ subscription from builders, industrialists, businessmen and other traders. The complaint further stated that when elections are going on and Model Code of Election Conduct is in force, such kind of fund collection and disbursement is not only violation of election conduct but also illegal. In democracy, such acts should be checked and controlled affectively.
It is worth mentioning here that funds to the tune of Rs 1.5 crore recovered by IT department during a raid on April 20, 2019 from House No A-7, Shailendra Nagar in the capital, is connected to illegal fund collection and disbursement by INC. The BJP further urged the Election Commission of India that such issues should be taken cognizance and action should be taken accordingly. It further stated that this money has allegedly been provided by liquor lobby to INC for election expenses.
Also during the IT raids, documents regarding hawala transactions of Rs 358 crore were also recovered, of which, over Rs 128 crore has been sent to a senior Congress functionary, alleged BJP on the basis of information received through its sources. Demanding posting of central security forces along with camera recording in these three places along with Rajiv Bhawan, the Congress head-quarters for strict vigil, the BJP stated that when the BJP delegation went to the office of CEO Chhattisgarh on April 21 at 7pm to submit the said complaint, they found the offices of CEO Chhattisgarh, Joint CEO Chhattisgarh as well as the office of receiving and dispatch clerk was also closed. Later the BJP delegation posted photographs of the same in c-VIGIL. Meanwhile, reacting to the allegations, CEO Chhattisgarh Subrat Sahoo said since the imposition of Model Code of Election Conduct (MCC), vigilance committees are carrying out strict vigilance on all suspicious activities.
Since the imposition of Election Conduct, these teams have seized cash and materials worth Rs 8.71 crore, of which, Rs 7.72 crore is cash. Separate vigilance teams constituted by IT, Excise and state police are strictly monitoring the illegal collection and movement of cash and materials. Sahoo further added that during imposition of MCC, separate vigilance committees instituted by separate departments work on the basis of allotted jurisdiction. Accordingly, seizure regarding Excise goods comes under area of jurisdiction of Excise department. Similarly, I-T department takes action when cash over Rs 10 lakh is recovered under monitoring of ECI. Sahoo further states that the Commission takes serious action against every complaint received and there is no question of giving priority to any political party or parties concerned. Also the complaints which comes under jurisdiction of Election Commission of India, is forwarded to it as early as possible.
Sahoo further informed that till date 44 complaints have been received from various political parties and organizations of which, 21 complaints is from BJP, 15 complaints from INC and eight from other political parties and action has been taken in all such complaints without any kind of bias. It further added that out of 21 complaints by BJP, 10 complaints have been disposed of, two complaints have been forwarded to Election Commission of India and in remaining nine complaints, action is in progress, of which reports are pending.