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Gill happy with the way the election went

Chief Election Commissioner Manohar Singh Gill on Tuesday criticised the increasing demand for central forces from different states during election.

He described the trend as a sign of the governments' "lack of faith" in their own forces. ''It appears that it has become a matter of pride for every state to ask for central forces beyond the reasonable limits. But it only implies that you do not have any faith in the objectivity of your own force,'' the CEC said in Calcutta.

Dr Gill also expressed dissatisfaction over the spate of election-related litigation the Commission had to deal with this time around. ''It was for the first time that we had to keep ourselves engaged in various challenges in the court that posed a threat of distraction," he said.

Speaking about the exit poll controversy, Dr Gill said he would not recommend any constitutional amendment as remedy. ''It is up to Parliament whether to take up any debate on the issue.''

Expressing concern over election-related violence, Dr Gill said these could be attributed to socio-economic and political causes. Most of these incidents occurred in areas where there was lack of development and low rates of literacy. It was for Parliament and the political parties to look into such troubles.

The EC had reasons to be satisfied with the election process, he said. In the 1999 election, there were 924 incidents of violence compared to the 1,541 in 1998 and the 1,209 in 1996. One hundred and thirty-eight persons died this time around. Eighty-three were killed by landmines laid by extremists. The number of security personnel killed this time was 74.

In 1998, 251 persons were killed in election-related violence. The figure was 313 in the 1996 poll, Dr Gill said.

Complimenting the police and civil staff on the successful discharge of their duties despite heavy odds, the CEC said he has written to all state governments to arrange adequate compensation for affected families. The Bihar government has announced a compensation of Rs 1 million to each family.

They should be treated at par with the Kargil heroes so far as compensation was concerned, Dr Gill said.

UNI

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