Will ensure Assembly, Lok Sabha Polls in J&K soon
DOGRA HERALD BUREAU
JAMMU, Mar 13
The Election Commission has received details from the State Bank of India (SBI) related to the electoral bonds and will share all relevant information in time, Chief Election Commissioner Rajiv Kumar said here on Wednesday.
The assertion comes in the wake of the Supreme Court directing the SBI to submit the details of the electoral bonds purchased since April 12, 2019 to the EC.
SBI is the authorised financial institution to issue the electoral bonds.
“The SBI was supposed to submit the data by March 12. They have given to us the details in time. I will go back and look at the data (and) would definitely disclose it in time,” Kumar told reporters here.
Kumar reached here on Wednesday to review preparations for the upcoming Lok Sabha elections in the Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir.
“We are ready for the 2024 Lok Sabha election. We will ensure free and fair elections across the country. We request voters across the country including Jammu and Kashmir to enthusiastically take part in the ‘festival of democracy,” the CEC said.
He said social media cell will be established in all districts in order to respond to fake news in real time. “Adequate security to be provided to all candidates and central forces will be deployed,” he added.
Kumar said strict vigil will be maintained on online cash transfers through wallets in Jammu and Kashmir. People above 85 years and those with disability will be provided voting at home facility in J-K, he added.
The Chief Election Commissioner of India Rajiv Kumar said that the Commission is concerned about holding Lok Sabha and Assembly elections but the final call on whether to hold two elections concurrently, will be taken about thorough consultations with the security agencies and political parties. He, however, said that elections will be held soon without much delay.
“We are concerned about Lok Sabha and Assembly polls in J&K. Majority of political parties we met in Srinagar and Jammu demanded that Assembly and Lok Sabha polls be held simultaneously,” CEC Rajiv Kumar told media persons at Jammu. “As far as holding Lok Sabha and Assembly polls simultaneously, we will take a final call after a thorough security review and consultations with the political parties. One thing is sure that we want early Lok Sabha and Assembly polls in J&K.”
He said that elections will be held in a peaceful manner. “There will be free and fair polls in J&K,” the CEC said.
