the goan I network
VASCO
Goa Pradesh Congress Committee (GPCC) Vice President Sankalp Amonkar on Saturday morning claimed around 1400 voter names in Mormugao constituency have been put up for deletion from the electoral roll, alleging that it had been done at the behest of Urban Development Minister Milind Naik.
Addressing a news conference along with other members of Mormugao Congress Block Committee, Amonkar raised strong concerns over the issue and alleged it was being done to benefit the BJP and its candidates contesting the forthcoming municipal elections, which would subsequently help the BJP in the next assembly elections.
Amonkar threatened to take up the issue with the Election Commission and also approach the High Court if the matter was not resolved.
“We got information that the list was given to the BLOs for deletion and no one was aware, including those persons whose names were to be deleted. We met the Mamlatdar and Joint Mamlatdar and requested him to put the process on hold.”
“We are shocked to know that the survey for voters in every ward has not been conducted by any authority but by councillors affiliated to Milind Naik. We have been informed that around 700 names are also given for addition in the electoral roll of Mormugao constituency,” said Amonkar.
He said the mamlatdar had been asked to display those names to be deleted/added on the notice board, so that people could know that their names were being deleted and accordingly take necessary action.
“Councillors affiliated to Milind Naik had been moving everywhere and targeting voters of Congress and attempting to delete names without notifying them. These councillors are working in respective wards along with karyakartas to identify non-BJP voters. Every councillor is given target to clear voters in respective wards,” said Amonkar.
“Since we are vigilant, we came to know about this or else, voters would not have realised this till the time they had gone to vote. Government officials are being threatened and pressurised to delete names.”
Stating that the Congress had no issue if names were being deleted on valid grounds, Amonkar said they demanded to know who had given the list to BLOs for addition and deletion.
“Some persons whose houses were demolished have moved to different areas in Mormugao constituency, while some persons are working out of Goa and India and as such their names cannot be deleted.”
“Last time during the assembly elections, a similar move was made but we fought and complained to the Election Commission. This time, we will take this up with the EC and even HC because no law can deny the person of his fundamental right to vote.”
Others who spoke at the news conference included Mormugao Block Congress members Jayesh Shetgaonkar, Sameer Shaikh, Mahesh Naik and Rashid Khan.
