Opposition wants stricter measures

A CORRESPONDENT

SHILLONG, March 12: Though the opposition in the state has expressed their concern over the possible enrolment of dubious voters in the state’s electoral roll, the state government said that these political parties did not sent block level agents to screen potential voters so that only genuine Indians are enrolled.

“If they did not sent it shows that the political parties has confidence on the State’s Election Department to deal with the enrolment process,” Deputy Chief Minister in-charge Election Department Rowell Lyngdoh said during his reply on a resolution moved by UDP legislator from Nongthymmai, Jemino Mawthoh.

Lyngdoh informed the House that only HSPDP sent two block level agents while the Congress sent more than 100 block level agents to assist the Election Department.

The Deputy Chief Minister, in-charge Election Department also said that since Meghalaya share an intertiol boundary with Bangladesh the people of the state are concerned with the issue of influx.

Lyngdoh however said that there is a perceived fear expressed by the indigenous people of the state. “People are apprehensive. Illegal immigration may affect the population structure of the indigenous people of the state. We don’t know whether this is a perceived fear or genuine,” Lyngdoh said.

Lyngdoh also said that the services of booth level officers (BLOs) are being extensively used to examine the genuineness of a new voter.

“The state is taking every effort to ensure that only genuine Indians are enrolled,” Lyngdoh said.

Earlier, initiating the resolution, Mawthoh said that the feeling of fear and apprehension expressed by the indigenous people is serious.

“Once a dubious voter gets enrolled in the electoral roll he can claim permanent citizenship in the state,” the UDP legislator said. Mawthoh also said that there should be a fool proof mechanism for identification of potential voters.

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