Journos too up in arms against ECI
PTI, PANAJI | 20 January 2012 19:59 IST
Journos protesting at Election Commission office
Journalists in Goa are planning to stage protests during the visit of Chief Election Commissioner S Y Quraishi to the state to highlight the alleged "non cooperative attitude" adopted by the local election office.
The Goa Union of Journalists (GUJ), an apex body of working journalists in the state, has resolved to stage protests during the visit of Quraishi, expected in the next fortnight, claiming that the local officers have refused to divulge any information to the media.
"The Commission receives several complaints. There is no response on those complaints. When we want to inquire about their follow up, the officers just shut the door on us," GUJ president Pandurang Gaonkar told PTI.
Journalists have been protesting at the Election Commission's office here since the last two days. Despite the protests, chief electoral officer S Kumarswamy has refused to meet the media.
The Commission had earlier announced that it would brief the press every day, Gaonkar said, adding, "But suddenly after a chain of incidents, it has turned hostile."
The BJP too has accused the Election Commission of turning a blind eye towards its complaints of misuse of power by the Congress.
It is time the Chief Election Commissioner could think of bringing in Officer from outside the State for a free and fair election. The common man always will doubt the ability and impartiality of any Officer drawn from State Administration- acting as Chief Election Officer for the Sate as he could always come under tremendous pressures from the Local Politicians--under whom he has worked for some time and under whom he may be required to work after elections...