JAMMU, July 17: Addressing a Press Conference today, Sh Rakesh Gupta the Former President of Chamber of Commerce and Industry , Jammu expressed concern and raised alarm over the organized and criminal act of rigging done in the elections of Chamber of Commerce & Industry, Jammu held on April 23 , 2023 last year. Giving proofs, he exposed the modus operandi of the then Election President Sh. Shiv Partap Gupta / Sh. Arun Gupta President CCI at that point of time .
The Press statement reads "
He said that the whole gamut came to light and was exposed after a written reply by the then Election President was given in the month of May, 2023 to a written communication / complaint by one of the senior member of the CCI Sh. Sunil Gupta of Sunil Traders, Nehru Market, Jammu alleging Non Transparent / Bias Polling Team/ Bogus Voting/ Rigged Election on April 23, 2023.
He reminded one and all that in 2020 a civil suit was filed in the court of law by Sh. YV Sharma (Former President) and Sh. Prithvi Raj Gupta(Former Secy. General) CCI supported by Sh. Arun Gupta (President CCI now) against the CCI’s team of office bearers citing procedural lapses in convening a special general meeting held in Dec 2018 that was attended by over 751 CCI members. Immediately thereafter four sitting office bearers switched sides and stood against me in the court of law proving that all these persons were hand in glove and against the sitting President Sh. Rakesh Gupta at that point of time.
Mr. Rakesh Gupta said that the written reply Dt: 22nd May, 2023 given by the then Election President was totally contradictory to the CCI’s Constitution and law of the land. Speaking on these 16 points reply Mr. Gupta said:
That, although there is no constitutional obligation or convention to disclose the names of the polling agents / arrangements to the contesting candidates but at the same time it does not allow the Election President to choose the polling agents from among his friends of the morning walkers association / Relatives of contesting candidate Sh. Arun Gupta President CCI. It proves their mala fide intentions by appointing bias polling staff.
That , the meeting of the Executive Committee is mandated under section 13(d) of the CCI,s constitution to pass the accounts but after the Election President has taken over, no such meeting can take place but it was still convened to pass all the questionable and objectionable expenditures.
That, the Election President miserably failed to justify the presence of the Presidium Members in the polling area namely Romesh Chander Gupta, YV Sharma, Prithvi Raj Gupta, Ravinder Sawhney, Ravinder Goel, Anil Gupta and a senior member Yash Pal Gupta. The reply saying that Sh. Prithvi Raj Gupta was appointed the Chief Election Observer , Sh.Yash Pal Gupta expressed his desire to watch direct polling and that the others were requested by the election committee to supervise the election are totally in contravention to CCI,s Constitution.
That, its Election Presidents totally a blatant lie saying that he did not get any complaint of bogus voting even when the polling had to be stopped for about an hour after pre ticked ballot papers were spotted and reported on social media too.
That, firstly a MARKER PEN was allowed to tick the ballot and later normal pens used speaks volumes of the intentions to rig the pools .
That, the voter list stood at 2816 members but the venue managers boosting of hosting more than 4000 members of CCI on social media again establishes the fact that many persons were allowed inside the polling venue illegally .
That, the instructions of the Election President to the venue managers to shut down CCTV and justifying the same by saying “ There were no reason to bulge the bill by asking for CCTV footage” is a criminal act and the Election President must know that CCTV Footage is Mandatory under law and always free of cost.
That, refusing to preserve Ballot papers / Video Footage / Camera Clicks and saying that “ we do not keep records of election material” the Election President has proved right our allegations of Rigged Election.
That , total denial by not providing List of Polling Agents/ Counting agents and copies of the bills of expenses incurred on Election othia case stands proved that the polls were rigged.
I appeal to the Hon’ble LG of J&K UT Sh. Manoj Sinha to order an inquiry considering the above mentioned facts and instruct the Registrar of Societies to issue notice to the Chamber of Commerce & Industry , Jammu to explain their position in this regard. I am very hopeful that Hon’ble LG Sir will do the needful and i also appeal that an amendment be made in the Act of Societies so that all the future elections of Registered Associations be conducted under the overall supervision of the Deputy Commissioner concerned.
It shall not be out of place to mention that the Kashmir Chamber of Commerce & Industries has taken the lead and made an amendment in their constitution which says “ THE ELECTION COMMISSION UNDER THE OVERALL SUPERVISION OF THE DEPUTY COMMISSIONER, SRINAGAR SHALL CONDUCT THE ELECTION PROCESS IN A SMOOTH , TRANSPARENT AND FAIR MANNER”.
I am sure that our Hon’ble LG Sir who has always enforced and believed in transparency shall issue immediate necessary instructions to uphold the democratic process and values."
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