Security During Polls

Polling to elect a new Lok Sabha (lower house) will run from 16 April to 13 May. Counting is due on 16 May. With the country facing its 15th national election round the corner, we are also witnessing toughest internal-security challenges in the history of independent India. Terrorist activitied is on a steep rise and election time is a tensed time for the country to be able to handle any untoward incident in a calm manner. Hence, we just can't afford to have anything go wrong in the election season and especially during polling. Our Chief Election Commissioner N Gopalaswamy has mentioned that nearly four million civil officials and more than two million security personnel will be deployed for the elections. We urge the Election Commission as well as the security forces, to be on the maximum alert and remain watchful all through the election month. We Indians, especially the ones who will be participating in the elections, need to be assured of our safety so that people do not shy away during polling just because of apprehensions. Even one single untoward incident can mar the image of safe-election-scene which the government is trying to create.