No fitting action taken up on poll violence : YCM
Source: The Sangai Express
Imphal, March 11 2022:
The Youth Collective Manipur (YCM) has accused the authorities concerned of not taking up appropriate actions for most of the electoral misconducts such as intimidation of party agents, manipulation and destruction of EVMs, proxy voting, booth capture etc.
A press release issued by YCM stated that they documented 78 poll related violent incidents including seven deaths in the 2022 State Assembly election.
Saying that the parameters for repoll in few polling stations were not made public by the Election Commission, it maintained that only 19 repolls were ordered this time as compared to 62 in 2017 'which was less violent.
"It is necessary to act upon the alleged violations and address the grievances so as not to 'further erode people's confidence in the electoral process,'" YCM asserted.
Claiming that lethal weapons were widely used to intimidate voters on the day of election and before while gun salutes were widespread in the post election celebration, the statement continued that the growing gun culture is a direct affront to the free expression of the will of the people.
Another interesting finding is that 47 out of the winning candidates are documented crorepatis and another 14 have criminal background, YCM claimed.
Saying that post election is also a sensitive period, it asked the authorities concerned to fulfil its responsibility so that people can express their opinions without any fear of reprisal .
YCM also expressed hope that the next Government will be transparent, corruption free and translate people's aspirations in the coming years.
Lastly, the group extended gratitude to all the people who exercised their franchise.