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Journalism of Courage
VADODARA, Sept 1: District collector Anil Mukim has asked the police to trace the publisher of an election handbill that included Kargil on the political agenda, following Congress complaints that the BJP was responsible for its circulation.
Submitting photocopies of the bills, they alleged that banners and posters with similar content were displayed in BJP leader and Gujarat Electricity Board chairman Nalin Bhatt’s residence. However, Mukim said his officials had not found any such material in Bhatt’s residence.
Meanwhile, the district administration acted against two employees for “partial functioning on election duty” and removed at least 50 political posters and banners from different parts of the district.
At least six government officials, including one police official, were asked to justify charges of “partiality” against them during their election duty in the rural parts recently. District development officer Anju Sharma and district superintendent of police Vivek Shrivastva told Express Newsline that the employees’ poll duties had been withdrawn following complaints against them.
Meanwhile, the administration has stepped up security arrangements for Prime Minister A B Vajpayee, who will halt at Vadodara airport for a while on September 2.
Order on cassette
State joint chief election officer J P Jadeja has written to all district collectors and police authorities for strict action against those found playing Himala Ki Bulandi Se, an audio cassette released by the BJP, as it “drags the Indian Armed Forces into the election campaign”. The action follows an Express Newsline report on the issue.
