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People making communal speeches should be prosecuted: Lyngdoh

Chief Election Commissioner J M Lyngdoh has said people who make communal speeches should be prosecuted.

He said the Election Commission would enforce the law 'rigidly' in Gujarat in the assembly election.

"Absolutely, people who use that sort of language should be prosecuted. We have to hasten that process," he said in the Court Martial programme for SAB TV anchored by Karan Thapar.

He was replying to a question on how the Commission would ensure trouble-free election in Gujarat when there were press interviews and statements by leaders on communal lines.

Asked specifically whether he was talking about people like Vishwa Hindu Parishad leader Praveen Togadia, the CEC said, "It could be anybody. Whoever it is."

Asked to comment on reports that the Union home ministry declined EC's demand for 400 companies of Central paramilitary forces for the conduct of free and fair polls in Gujarat hit by communal violence, the CEC said the issue had been settled with a discussion with the home secretary. "It could be 425 or 375. It should be all right."

To a question on what change the Commission had noticed in the last eight to nine weeks to conduct the election, after delaying the process, Lyngdoh said that it was not an 'absolute delay', but only 'conditional'.

Asked whether the minorities would come out to exercise their franchise now, he said, "I hope so."

On charges that he was an agent of the Congress, Lyngdoh dismissed it saying that sometimes people make ridiculous statements. "It doesn't bother me at all."

To a question on the Commission's directives to the Gujarat government to remove hoarding and posters on communal lines, he said that it was being implemented fully.

"We never communicate with the political executive. It is always with the civil administration," he said.

To a question on what areas the Commission would lay close watch in the run-up to the Gujarat poll, he said that there was a need to provide polling arrangements for those who were still in unofficial camps and the people who left the state.

On suggestions from some quarters to increase the strength of EC to five or seven, he said three was big enough.

"It is just about manageable. Three is all right. Anything more than three will be unwieldy," he said.

Disagreeing with the State funding of elections, the CEC said the country was wasting a lot of State money on elections, and no State could afford it.

Lyngdoh said he was not surprised about the turnout at the just concluded assembly election in Jammu and Kashmir. He said the Commission had made visits to the state and after the second visit of the full Commission, it came to know that there would be a chance to make 'good elections'.

Gujarat Elections 2002: The complete coverage

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