EC functioning in question over dumped VVPAT slips, says Mann

Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann has said that the recovery of slips of dumped VVPAT poses a serious question mark over the conduct of fair poll. Mann said this on Sunday while flagging off the first batch of buses carrying devotees for paying obeisance in Amritsar under the Mukh Mantri Tirath Yatra Scheme.

The Chief Minister said that this posed a serious question mark over the free and fair poll along with the working of the Election Commission of India. “The Election Commission should clarify its position if any political party was raising questions over EVM and vote theft,” he said.

“The state is yet to receive Rs 1,600 crore announced by the Prime Minister for the flood relief, adding that to make matters worse the Centre is trying to adjust the funds from other ongoing schemes,” he maintained.

Meanwhile, he said the state government was providing two lakh quintal seeds costing Rs 74 crore free of cost to them. “The state government has also disbursed compensation worth Rs 20,000 per acre to the farmers for crop loss, which is the highest ever given by any state government in the country,” he claimed.

Taking a dig at the Congress, Mann claimed that the state Congress chief had lost his mental balance due to which he was making irresponsible statements. “Such frivolous statements are not made by a normal or sensible person. Sensing his party’s inevitable defeat in Tarn Taran bypoll, Raja Warring has been baffled, due to which he was indulging in such acts,” said Mann.

Earlier, interacting with devotees, the Chief Minister said that this pilgrimage was dedicated to the 350th martyrdom anniversary of the ninth Guru. He said that under the scheme the devotees would be taken to the Golden Temple, Durgiana Mandir, Bhagwan Valmiki Tirath Sthal, Jallianwala Bagh, Partition Museum and other religious and historical places in Amritsar. Mann said that this scheme was for people of all castes, religions, income groups and regions.