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Mukhtar Ahmad in Srinagar
The Election Commission on Monday ruled out the possibility of an official invitation to foreign observers to oversee the state assembly polls in Jammu and Kashmir scheduled for September.
"We have our own observers. Foreign observers cannot be part of our structure. The law says the observers have to be government officials. The observers report to us," the Chief Election Commissioner J M Lyngdoh said in Srinagar, while addressing a press conference.
"But if anyone wants to come on his own he can. However, foreign media can visit every polling booth," he added
The CEC said that various political parties have made a demand for 'good observers' to oversee the polls in the state.
"We will send good observers totally hand picked by us. They will not only observe elections, but also oversee the security provided to candidates of various political parties," he said.
"They will be our eyes and ears," he added.
He said many political parties have expressed apprehensions that the Special Operations Group of the state police and National Defence Front might try to rig the polls in the state.
"Many political leaders told me that they have already started receiving threats from these groups," he said. "This is a matter to be examined carefully."
The CEC said security forces would only sanitise the areas and not encourage or force people to vote on the polling day.
"We won't allow anyone to compel any voter to cast his vote. Compelling anyone is an offence," he said.
Outlining the security arrangements, the CEC said, "The candidates need better security for any meaningful campaigning and without proper security it is not possible. We have discussed the issue with the Union home ministry and orders have already been passed to the state administration and the directions will be implemented within next few days."
He said for the EC would issue the voter slips, and not the political parties.
"We will be implementing it first time in Jammu and Kashmir," he added.
Lyngdoh said that the electoral rolls for the polls have also been computerised for the first time.
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