Election of NRI Sabha to be held in January: Majithia

by Punjabnewswire4u (Balbir)

CHANDIGARH, JULY 31 

Mr. Bikram Singh Majithia, NRI Affairs Minister Punjab said that the elections to the NRI Sabha would be held in January 2013. While the rest of the schedule to be announced later.

          Disclosing this here today in a meeting with the representatives of the NRI Sabha, Mr. Majithia said that the main objective of holding these elections in the month of January was mainly to ensure maximum participation of NRIs in  exercising their right to vote.  He, however, said that although the NRI Sabha has 20 thousand enrolled members but very few participate in the electoral process. In order to increase the vote percentage in the forthcoming elections, the elections were being held in the month of January presuming that most of the NRIs visit India during winters and besides that the Union government was also holding the Parwasi Bharti Sammellan at Kochi from January 7 to January 9, 2013. To redress the grievances of the NRIs, Punjab government was also in the process of launching its website where NRIs could file their complaints regarding revenue, police and any other cases for speedy disposal.

          He also said that with a view to deciding the nominee process to cast the votes in NRI Sabha elections, a general body meeting would be called to decide whether the nominees should be continued or abolished. He said that the verdict of the majority would be carried out in this regard. He asked the officers of the department to ensure that only the already registered members of NRI Sabha could cast their votes. The Minister also directed the officials to revise the photo electoral rolls and put it on the website for any claims/objections before the final publication of the electoral rolls.

          Mr. Majithia also said that it was decided for the first time that the person contesting election would have to prove his/her NRI status according to the constitution of the NRI Sabha. He also said that there should be a consensus in the NRI sabha Elections , if election  was required then a free and fair election would be ensured.    

          The meeting was attended by Secretary NRI Affairs, Mr,. N.S.Kang, Chairman NRI Commission Punjab, Justice (Retd) Arvind Kumar, Senior  Akali Dal Leader, S Balwant Singh Ramuwalia and representatives of NRI Sabha.