THE GOAN NETWORK
PANAJI
The ruling set-up, under the influence of the BJP, is compelling the around 400-odd India Reserve Battalion (IRB) police personnel posted in Uttar Pradesh into skipping postal ballot, through enforced duress, alliance partners Congress and the Goa Forward party complained to the Chief Electoral Officer.
Congress and Goa Forward party spokespersons Sunil Kawthankar and Durgadas Kamat, respectively, told reporters that plans are afoot to transport 400 personnel posted near Jhansi town in Uttar Pradesh to Goa -- a journey spanning more than 1,200 kms -- by road in state transport corporation run buses for the purpose of casting postal ballot in Goa.
"The 400 IRB boys are being sent to Goa by bus and others are being sent to replace them. Arrangements are being made to bring them to Goa by Kadamba buses. It is going to be an arduous journey of over 1,200 kms. They should have been brought by train instead. All this is being done because the government fears that the police personnel will not vote for BJP," Kawthankar said.
"Kadamba buses break down while travelling from Margao to Panaji. Imagine the hardship our boys will have to face if they have to travel to Goa from Jhansi by bus," he added.
Kawthankar said that both parties had filed a formal complaint before the CEO to intervene and ensure safe passage for the IRB personnel and ensure that they are not under pressure while casting their postal ballots. Postal ballots have to be returned to the poll authorities by the morning of March 10, when votes polled in the February 14 polls are scheduled to be counted.
"We have informed the CEO about this and urged him to ensure proper and fair voting mechanism for the police personnel. Electoral process is the foundation of democracy," Kawthankar said.
"The government is worried that the police personnel are not likely to vote for the government's candidates. That is why they are trying to ensure that the IRB personnel do not vote," Kawthankar also said.
