Chandigarh December 29: The Election Commission of India (ECI) has deferred the disbursement of relief funds till the election process is over in the state. Disclosing this here today, Ms. Kusumjit Sidhu, Chief Electoral Officer Punjab said that reports received on distributing Ration Cards/ Blue cards with the pictures of Chief Minister Punjab in district Bathinda were also ordered to be stopped immediately.
Adding further, she said that a few sewing machines were also taken into custody in Chamkaur Sahib where they were allegedly being
distributed. She also said that 11 ROs in Punjab were also being shifted on personal as well as administrative grounds. She also said that the state static surveillance teams were fully geared up for their work. After the model code of conduct, unaccounted money worth Rs. 5 crores has been seized so far and Rs. 47 Lakhs have been seized today itself. Quoting an incident of Guru Harsahai , she said that Rs. 23 lakhs were returned to a farmer after verifying the authentic documents at the time of checking. She also said that all the seizures were being video graphed.
Addressing the media, Mrs. Usha R. Sharma , Special Chief Electoral Officer Punjab said that Election Department Punjab has received 129
complaints till date out of which 21 have been resolved. She further said that more than 8000 hoardings have been removed across the state
and 79 notices have been issued regarding the violation of Model Code of Conduct.
