Page 39 - 31MAY2019E

poll code violation

n May 10, the IAS offIcer who Acted always faced credibility
J&K president issues. So, her action is al-
of Bharatiya ready winning her hearts.
Janata Party AgAInSt BJP In LAdAkh “Such a cool story. Up-
O Ravinder Raina right father becomes hero
and its sitting legislative by not agreeing with highly
council member Vikram compromised two ECs
Randhawa were charged The action involved charges of bribery and on decision against Modi.
with offences of bribery and exercising unfair influence against the Daughter, Avny Lavasa,
exercising unfair influence also an IAS Officer, now
in the ongoing parliamen- saffron party’s key leaders in the state during orders filing of FIR against
tary elections. Lok Sabha elections, writes riyaz wani BJP leaders in Leh Bribery
The FIR was lodged scandal,” Rifat Jawaid posts
after a local court asked the on Twitter. “Like father like
police to file a case on com- daughter. Same day head-
plaint by the Leh journalist liners,” Rahul Singh writes
body, accusing senior BJP on the microblogging site.
leaders including Raina and Lavasa had cracked the
Randhawa of bribing media IAS in 2012. She was posted
persons at a press confer- as Deputy Commissioner to
ence on May 2 to file pro-BJP Leh in September 2017 and
stories.
But the action against The FIR against
the BJP followed after the
District Election Officer BJP was followed
Avny Lavasa followed up the up with Lavasa
complaint from journal-
ists with an enquiry which acting on another
prima facie found merit in poll complaint,
the allegations. Her office
later approached the district that has the potential to in- tion cards for the press this time against
court through police, seek- vite strict legal action,” read conference,” Rains told
ing directions for registra- the letter written by Lavasa the media. “There was no the Army
tion of an FIR in the matter. to the General Officer Com- money in the cards”.
The FIR against the manding 14 Corps. He added that if “the ever since she has taken
BJP was followed up with Both the Army and the court, police, election significant steps towards
Lavasa acting on another BJP have denied the charges, authorities wanted to do lie- decongestion of the traffic
poll complaint, this time but Lavasa’s actions have detector, narco test or brain in the district and the seg-
against the Army. She made her a popular figure in mapping test”, he was ready. regation of the waste. Simi-
wrote to the Army authori- the state. Incidentally, she is Similarly the defence PRO larly, the concept of Ladakh
ties to maintain sanctity the daughter of the Election Col Rajesh Kalia said that the School Olympics was also
of electoral process after Commissioner Ashok Lava- Army’s preliminary inves- introduced by her.
two contesting candidates sa, who recently differed tigations indicated that the “We the people of Ladakh
alleged that officers were with the majority view in complaints were unfounded are very lucky to have Avny
voting on behalf of soldiers the Election Commission in and appeared to have been Lavasa as our DC. We appeal
posted away from their unit five different complaints of made to tarnish the image to higher authorities not
headquarters. violation of the Model Code of the Army. to transfer her from the
“It is alleged that the of Conduct (MCC) against But Lavasa’s prompt ac- district for another 15 years,”
commanding officers Prime Minister Narendra tions against the alleged vio- writes Skorma Tokdan in a
are telephonically asking Modi and BJP chief Amit lations of the model code of Facebook post. “She works
Jawans for their voting Shah, four of them against conduct have been received very hard for the better-
preference rather than the PM. well among the people and ment of Ladakh. Now it is
supplying to them the ballot In response to FIR, the the media. Her actions have our duty to respect her hard
papers for casting his vote BJP has said it had not also inspired confidence work”.
(sic). This is a gross violation bribed the media persons among the people in a state
of secrecy and a malpractice but had given them invita- where the elections have letters@tehelka.com

Tehelka / 31 may 2019 39 www.Tehelka.com