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EC asks Gujarat to be on `full alert'

By J. Venkatesan

NEW DELHI Dec. 5. The Election Commission today asked the Gujarat Government to put the State administration on high alert in view of the 10th anniversary of the Babri Masjid demolition tomorrow and till the Assembly elections on December 12.

A letter to this effect was sent to the Gujarat Chief Secretary after the full Commission, presided over by the Chief Election Commissioner, J.M. Lyngdoh, held a meeting in which the Deputy Commissioner, A.N. Jha, who was deputed to the State, briefed the Commission on his on-the-spot assessment of the situation.

The letter addressed by Mr. Jha said the tenor and character of the election process that was unfolding in the State was such that "it makes December 6 a very important day from the point of the State administration maintaining law and order effectively throughout the State and ensuring that no untoward incidents occur''.

The letter said that "for this purpose, the Commission desires that all organs in charge of maintenance of law and order in the State be placed on high alert and senior officials personally supervise all the arrangements that require to be put in place to achieve this end''.

Further, the Commission also asked the State to maintain utmost calm tomorrow as well as the period leading to the poll day.

Curbs on VHP leaders

A PTI report from Ahmedabad said the Gujarat Election Commission had put curbs on the speeches of VHP leaders and limited their proposed `Shauryadivas' rally to mark the 10th anniversary of the Babri Masjid demolition tomorrow, to two places in the city, that too under strict surveillance.

The VHP has been given permission to hold religious congregation at two places — Bapunagar and Satellite areas — with restriction that no derogatory speeches against any government official, the Election Commission or contesting candidates be made by speakers so as to incite communal passion.

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