New Delhi, India: The Election Commission of India (ECI) has reportedly sought explanation from the BJP government for deciding on a fresh compensation for victims of anti-Sikh pogrom victims during the model code of conduct because of by-polls in the three assembly segments in Delhi.
The ECI has announced polls for Krishna Nagar, Mehrauli and Tughaqabad with that for Jammu and Kashmir and Jharkhand on October 26 and imposed model code of conduct in three states.
Reports media say that ECI has shot a letter to the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) seeking the reason for the decision after the model code of conduct came into force. The government decision is being seen as an attempt of the BJP led Centre to influence voters in Delhi and Jammu and Kashmir.
The home ministry has decided to give Rs. 5 lakh as compensation to each of the next of the kin of 3,325 victims of the anti-Sikh pogroms victims in addition to the money received by them from the government.
It was a suo-motto decision of the commission to seek explanation from the ministry as no political party had lodged a complaint against the government.
The EC will decide whether the government decision amounted to violation of the model code after receiving the Home Ministry’s reply.