हिंदी
CM Channi and his Govt’ was lethargic in informing EC about the importance of Guru Ravidass Jyanti – Kainth
Chandigarh, 17 January 2022
The National Scheduled Castes Alliance extended its appreciation towards the Election Commission of India for postponing the election/voting date from 14th February to 20th February in Punjab. The change of date comes after political parties requested the EC to consider the shift due to the occasion of Guru Ravidass Jyanti on 16th February whereby lakhs of voters who usually embark on a pilgrimage to Varanasi (Govardhan Dham) starting from 10th February, would have lost out on their constitutional right to elect their representatives for the Punjab Vidhan Sabha.
READ MORE :-AAP welcomes the deferral of elections in view of Sri Guru Ravidas Jayanti
Paramjit Singh Kainth, President of NSCA also wrote to the Chief Election Commission, Mr. Sushil Chandra on 14th January regarding the demand for change of date for voting be postponed to 20th February. Speaking on the decision Kainth said, “Our community welcomes this decision by the ECI. This has prevented flaring up of emotions within the Scheduled Castes community in Punjab and averted unnecessary disruption of law and order situation in the State. The protests witnessed throughout the state were signs of the discontent within the community and the action of ECI to shift the date is crucial to maintain peace and tranquility further.”
Blaming the issue on the State Government, Kainth further criticized the Punjab Government led by Charanjit Singh Channi of being ignorant of the importance of Guru Ravidass Jyanti and the repercussions of conducting vote near the auspicious date. He said, “The State government of Punjab should’ve taken into consideration the huge movement of devotees which occurs every year from Punjab to Varanasi during the week of the Jyanti and in this regard, it should’ve advised the ECI beforehand about the dilemma it might pose if voting is conducted on 14th February. The ECI always consults with the State government before announcing the poll process and the Chief Minister, who himself belongs to the SC community, was negligent in performing his duties so as to inform the ECI about the momentous occasion of the Saint’s Birth Anniversary.”
