DATE=9/20/1999
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
TITLE=INDIA/ELECTION VIOLENCE/BIHAR
NUMBER=2-254086
BYLINE=ANJANA PASRICHA
DATELINE=NEW DELHI
CONTENT=
VOICED AT:
INTRO: Authorities in India are deploying extra
security in the eastern state of Bihar, which was
swept by a wave of election day violence last week.
As Anjana Pasricha reports from VOA's New Delhi
Bureau, there are fears of more violence as India
prepares for the last two rounds of its staggered
election.
TEXT: After India completed the first two rounds of
voting earlier this month, the country's Chief
Election Commissioner called the balloting "peaceful,
dull, almost boring." But the calm was broken when 44
people were killed in landmine blasts and clashes on
polling day last Saturday
As India prepares for the its last two rounds of
polling, Election Commissioner M. S. Gill says the
country is now embarking on the "harder part of the
election."
Most of the concern centers on Bihar, where polling is
still to be held in nearly two-thirds of the state.
Nearly one-tenth of the country's lawmakers come from
Bihar. It's India's poorest state and the site of
most of the recent violence. The state's Home
Commissioner, U.N. Panjiar, says security is being
tightened for the next two rounds of voting on
September 25th and October 3rd.
///INSERT PANJIAR ACT///
We are taking extra steps and we are also
requesting the government of India to provide
additional force so that we can strengthen the
security.
///END PANJIAR ACT///
(OPT) Most of the victims Saturday were policemen and
election workers who were killed in landmine blasts
blamed on extremist Maoist guerrillas. (END OPT)
Ruling Bharatiya Janata Party leaders are accusing the
local opposition of inciting violence, and encouraging
attacks on their candidates. On Monday, Defense
Minister George Fernandes said the state's Chief
Minister, Rabri Devi, had called on voters to "lynch
with stones" a candidate of the BJP alliance. (Ram
Vilas paswan)
(OPT) B-J-P spokesman Narendra Modi says his party is
concerned that voting may not be fair in Bihar.
///INSERT MODI ACT///
Because violence one problem. The malpractice's
another problem and the state government is
totally inept.
///END MODI ACT/// (END OPT)
Bihar is ruled by a regional party called the
Rashtriya janata Dal - a political rival of the B-J-P
and its allies. Home Commissioner Panjiar admits the
political temperature in the state is high.
///INSERT PANJIAR ACT///
The next two phases the problems are different
from the first phase. Now the problem will be
to see there are no clashes between the parties
or their candidates or their supporters, or
there is no booth capturing (ballot tampering)
as such. So these are are two main concerns.
///END PANJIAR ACT///
Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee has stressed the
need for caution even after the election is over, and
says the votes must be protected until the counting is
finished.
During the staggered elections, the millions of
ballots from throughout the country are sealed in
boxes and kept in government buildings until all
phases of the polling are complete.
But in past elections in Bihar, there have been
frequent complaints of ballot boxes being snatched or
tampered with.
Vote counting begins nationwide on October 6th. Exit
polls inidicate the B-J-P and its allies will likely
win more than half the seats. (SIGNED)
NEB/AP/LTD/bk
20-Sep-1999 09:05 AM LOC (20-Sep-1999 1305 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America
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