CEO Punjab motivates all officials to take part in democratic process...

Chandigarh, January 25: A large gathering of Punjab Secretariat staff members pledged to cast their votes without fear at a Voters’ Pledge function marking the Ninth National Voters’ Day on Friday. The pledge was administered by Principal Secretary Finance Mr. Anirudh Tewari on the Punjab Civil Secretariat-1 campus here. Mr. Tewari also launched a signature campaign for Voters’ Day.

Joining Mr Tewari, the officials pledged, “We, the citizens of India, having abiding faith in democracy, hereby pledge to uphold the democratic traditions of our country and the dignity of free, fair and peaceful elections, and to vote in every election fearlessly and without being influenced by considerations of religion, race, caste, community, language or any inducement.’’

Earlier, the Chief Electoral Officer of Punjab Dr. S. Karuna Raju explained the significance of voters’ day and motivated all the officers and employees to take part in the democratic process. He said since 2011, every year National Voters’ Day is celebrated on January 25, the foundation day of the Election Commission of India, established in 1950. The motive of this initiative is to sensitize and encourage the youth to registered themselves as voters and vigorously take part in the election process.

The Chief Electoral Officer said all voters should exercise their right to vote without any allurement, through Ludo game, he sensitized the officials the ill-effects on the entire democratic system if any voter cast his vote under the influence of liquor or drugs.