Kalyan wants shoot at sight orders for by-polls

LUCKNOW: Fearing large-scale violence and rigging, the BJP vice-president and state incharge Kalyan Singh on Tuesday demanded from the Election Commission that shoot at sight orders be issued in all constituencies going to by-polls in Uttar Pradesh on October 13 to keep trouble-makers at bay.
Kalyan charged the Mulayam government with hatching a conspiracy to organise booth-capturing at large scale on the polling day to win elections at any cost."The Mulayam government is playing a dangerous game to remain in power. It''s booth-capturing plan emanated from chief minister Mulayam Singh Yadav''s statement that he would not quit chair come what may," pointed out Kalyan.
"By-polls in UP are a challenge to Election Commission. The only way to ensure free, fair and fearless by-polls is to issue directives for shoot-at-sight against those attempting to capture booths on the polling day," he demanded.
"Booth-capturing was ''dacoity'' on democracy. Robbing people of their fundamental rights was a heinous crime. It was the duty of the commission to take effective steps to ensure that people cast their votes fearlessly," he added.
Kalyan also asked for five special observers from outside UP in Mainpuri and two each in 12 UP Assembly seats. He also urged the commission to replace the police force with CRPF or any other Central force for free and fair polling.
Kalyan charged Mulayam with deputing ministers with armed men in all constituencies to win elections at any cost. "In Atrauli, ministers are camping with armed criminals and anti-socials terrorising voters. The same is the situation in other constituencies too," he claimed.
The senior BJP leader has already faxed a complaint to the EC in this regard and would meet the CEC and members shortly to apprise them of the gravity of the situation in UP.
"We will not indulge in any violence but would give a befitting reply if ruling Samajwadi Party men tried any misadventure during by-polls," he warned claiming that party would fare well if free and fair polls could be ensured by the commission.
Kalyan also charged Mulayam government with violating model code of conduct. "Announcement for making power available to farmers free of cost is a clear violation of model code of conduct. The Election Commission should take suo motu notice of it," pointed Kalyan saying that the BJP would also lodge a complaint with the commission in this regard.
"The chief minister could have waited for by-polls to be over. The same could have been announced on October 14 when elections were over. But the statement was deliberately made to influence by-poll results," charged Kalyan.