EC rejects BJP’s demand for halting free air service

BD Kasniyal

Pithoragarh, January 5

The BJP today demanded stopping of the state government’s free air travel service to Naini Saini and Chinyalisaur from Dehradun, citing violation of the model code of conduct after the announcement of Assembly poll date. However, the election office rejected their plea.

The BJP lodged an objection with the state Election Commission that a plane reached the Naini Saini airstrip with passengers from Dehradun and later departed with six passengers.

“We have objected to continuation of the free-of-cost air service as it was meant for the old, disabled and ill persons, but was being used to fly able and without purpose travellers,” said state BJP president Ajay Bhatt.

The air service runs twice a week and was started by the state government on December 25, 2016, for a month to the newly developed air strips in Naini Saini in Pithoragarh and Chinyalisor in Uttarakashi district.

Pithoragarh District Election Officer Dr Ranjit Sinha rejected the demand saying the continuation of the free of cost air service to and from the district was not violation of election code of conduct as it was a programme and had earlier been decoded by the state Cabinet.