BJP demands action against RO, who lodge FIR against BJP

DAINIK NATION BUREAU

The Bharatiya Janata Party State president Ajay Bhatt has categorically alleged that the returning officer had registered FIR against BJP Haridwar district president under pressure from the state government. He also said that as administration had lodged FIR against the All India Congress Committee vice president Rahul Gandhi and chief minister Harish Rawat so now they have booked BJP leaders on false charges.

Bhatt alleged that despite having district election officer’s recommendation to returning officer, the RO did not issue permission for prime minister Narendra Modi’s rally which took place on February 10. Citing this, he demanded from Chief Electoral Officer (CEO) that appropriate action be taken against the guilty officer. He also showed multiple letters which the party leaders had submitted to district administration and district administration and referred to BHEL and Rishikul as well.

Bhatt averred that “we had intimated the district election officer (DEO) of Haridwar about the Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s rally here in Haridwar on February 3. Taking cognisance of the letter the DEO had written a letter to BHEL and Rishikul to allow their helipad to be used for landing the helicopter carrying the PM. Thereafter they had written a letter to Rishikul administration seeking ground for holding the PM’s rally and the BJP was authorised to hold its function so party paid Rs 7,500 for land use and Rs 5,000 for cleaning of the site after the rally. Later the party had also received permission from electricity department for power supply connection to power the sound system at the rally. Even district administration had issued protocol and informed both BHEL and Rishikul RO about the protocol and details of the PM’s visit. These are the clinching evidences by which the BJP can claim that it did not violate any election model code of conduct (MCC) for the PM’s rally.

He further said, “It is known that during Rahul Gandhi’s road show their security staff had apprised them including chief minister Harish Rawat about it being late but he said that he would take care of it. Although election commission authorised people to canvass till 8 pm but usually people can use loudspeaker till10 pm so they were allowed till 10 pm but they conducted their road show till midnight. Under pressure of public they lodged police complaint in that case so now Pradesh Congress Committee president put pressure over the RO Jai Singh Rawat to lodge FIR against BJP leaders for PM rally,” he said. A BJP delegation met chief electoral officer Radha Raturi on Thursday and demanded action against the guilty officer, in response to which she had assured that she would conduct an enquiry of the case. Prima facie it seems as if the RO has made a mistake, added Bhatt.