Ajey Bharti demands issuance of EPICs for Displaced Community in Jammu, other parts of country

Former Member of Legislative Council and spokesperson of BJP-Jammu Kashmir Girdhari Lal Raina Ajey Bharti has demanded issuance of Election Photo Identity Cards (EPICs) for the Displaced Community in Jammu and other parts of country where they put up presently and not in Kashmir valley from where they were extirpated.

Raising important issues with Pandurang K Pole, Chief Electoral Officer, Jammu & Kashmir related to the effective participation of the Displaced Community in election process whenever they are held Ajey Bharti asked for utilisation of the mechanism in place with AROs and other support staff that caters to the special needs of this segment of population. It is this mechanism through which voter registration is happening, he added. Why can’t EPICs be distributed through this very system, questioned Ex-MLC. He pleaded for issuance of necessary instructions to the concerned authorities for proper segregation and distribution of EPICS to the displaced voters.

EPICs are being distributed by BLOs in their areas, we understand sorting and distribution is being done as per territorial Assembly constituencies stated GL Raina. In this process EPICs of Displaced Community voters don’t reach the intended person and get lost in transition, he stressed. It is an accepted fact that the Displaced Community is not living at the places of their origin where they are ordinarily citizens, explained Raina. Because of it the Election Commission was gracious enough to recognise their needs and designed a special scheme for them, he added further.

Another issue of importance raised by Ajey Bharti was the awareness campaign to be tailor made for the community. Appreciating the short videos prepared for this purpose by the CEO some time back, the BJP spokesperson urged the CEO to make the awareness campaign further advanced with the help of community icons, artists and activists from the community who are better connected with roots. They can use street plays, musical events or door to door campaign to ensure that every eligible voter is registered and is enabled to participate in the festival of democracy, He opined

(NOTE: PRESS RELEASE PUBLISHED AS RECEIVED)