Sundernagar, May 3
Although the Election Commission of
India has issued directions regarding the prevention of defacement of property
to various political parties and the contesting candidates, this has no impact
on campaigns as the provision is being violated in Mandi. The defacement is
detected in the forest area here as a large number of rocks along the National
Highway No 21 have been defaced which is in violation of the Forest Conservation
Act.
Rocks have been painted along various roads. A large number of rain
shelters have been defaced and posters and paintings can be seen at various
public places.
The Election Commission has circulated directions to Chief
Secretaries and Chief Election Officers of various states to protect public and
private properties from defacement but these directions are merely paper work as
none of the officials has asked any political party to remove the defacement.
When Assistant Returning Officer of Mandi Arun Sharma asked about it, he said
neither any complaint of defacement was received, nor any directions to remove
the defacement were issued. Interestingly, the defacement has been done just
outside the office of the DC who is also the Returning Officer for the Mandi
constituency but the official never bothered to order its removal.
The Supreme
Court of India slapped a fine of Rs 2 crore for defacing the rocks in the forest
area between Manali and Rohtang Pass but it seems that no party has taken the
defacement seriously. Even observers, who were appointed in this Parliamentary
constituency by the Election Commission, never issued any direction to remove
the paintings.
Recently the BJP has filed a complaint regarding the defacement
done by the Congress before the RO, Mandi, and the Election Commission of India
but no action has been taken.
The BJP and the Congress are using Rest Houses
for political purposes. Leaders of both parties have been addressing press
conferences in Rest Houses. As per direction issued by the Election Commission
after the implementation of the Code of Conduct they cannot use Rest Houses for
this purpose.
