TN: Cast zero vote? Cops want to know why

TIRUPUR: Members of Voters Voice Forum (VVF) observed a one-day token fast here on Sunday protesting the police intelligence department’s plan to probe the voters who cast their votes under 49(O). Deivasigamani, president of VVF, who led the protest said, “We came to know that the Q-Branch police have plans to investigate electors who caste their votes under 49(O) to find out whether there is Naxalite influence behind the higher number of neutral votes in the state. A Tamil daily also carried the news recently, which has created fear among the voters on police investigation.”

He also said, “The investigation will be seen as a threat to voters’ rights. The Election Commission (EC) should take action to prevent the publication of such news to prevent panic among the voters.” He urged the EC to protect the voters from police investigation and to avoid unnecessary controversies over the issue.

Gandhiya Makkal Iyakkam, Desiya Murpoku Thozhilalar Kazhagam and Makkal Sakthi Iyakkam leaders also extended their support to VVF, demanding that in order to maintain the secrecy of voting under 49(O), a button should be added in the Electronic Voting Machines to enable voters to exercise this option.