Team Herald
PANJIM: Assuring to ensure that the traditional religious rites in temples and churches are not disturbed, the Chief Electoral Officer (CEO) has directed political parties and their candidates not to make use of these functions for political purposes.
CEO Kunal on Thursday held an all-party meeting in connection with restrictions and hindrances caused due to the model code of conduct (MCC), which is currently in force for the Lok Sabha elections and by-elections in four Assembly constituencies.
The CEO has also decided to review granting further relaxation under the code after the Lok Sabha polling date on April 23.
Goa Forward Party (GFP) president Vijai Sardesai took the lead and urged the CEO that there should be exemption not only to social and religious functions but also to the tourism and hospitality industry as they are backbone of the economy.
Speaking to media persons after the meeting, Kunal said it was with regards to celebration of social and religious activities in different parts of the State which have been taking place traditionally.
“We assure that the model code of conduct does not come in any way between celebration of local tradition and customs. We have unanimously resolved that there will not be any obstructions and disturbances to any kind of celebrations, which are traditional happening in temples and churches,” he said.
Kunal said that necessary directions would be issued to the flying squads through district election officers (DEOs). “However, we have to make it clear that this kind of social, religious functions cannot be used by political parties and their candidates for any political purpose,” he said.
Responding to a demand for relaxation to the tourism and hospitality industry, Kunal said that the election authorities have not stopped operations but that there are restrictions on serving of liquor. “We have allowed liquor serving till 11pm,” he said.
Earlier speaking, Sardesai told media persons that they respect the Election Commission as the custodian of India’s democracy but the MCC should also respect Goa’s socio-religious heritage. “The code is now acting as a deterrent to Goa’s economy by stifling the tourism and hospitality industry, which is the mainstay of Goa’s economy,” he charged.
The Deputy CM said that tourism stakeholders are likely to lose their season as the code has brought a dry period for them which will extend to May end due to the Panjim by-elections which are scheduled on May 19. He pointed out that night clubs are made to stop operations post 10pm and liquor is also stopped from being served.
“Though the model code of conduct is common for the entire country due to LS polls, in Mumbai, Bangalore you see no one stopping any activities there,” he said, demanding that Goa should be given special exemption being a tourism State.
Sardesai said that public sentiment is going against the ECI and corrective measures should be taken to exempt socio-religious functions and the tourism Industry from the code restrictions.
“I specially went for the meeting to voice these sentiments and asked other political parties to make their stand clear on the issue. There was clear unanimity that the code should factor in these local sentiments and take remedial action immediately,” he said.
