New Delhi: Chief Election Commissioner J M Lyngdoh has said people who make communal speeches should be prosecuted and the Commission would enforce the law "rigidly" in Gujarat in the coming Assembly elections.

"Absolutely, people who use that sort of language should be prosecuted. We have to hasten that process," he said in the "Court Martial" programme for SAB TV anchored by Karan Thapar.

He was replying to a question on how the Commission would ensure trouble free elections in Gujarat when there were press interviews and statements by leaders on communal lines.

Asked specifically whether he was talking about people like Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP) leader Praveen Togadia, the CEC said, "It could be anybody. Whoever it is".

To a question whether the Commission could use its authority to send out a message to contain such speeches and statements, he said, "Yes. We will do that."

Stating that the Commission had been routinely doing that in every election, Lyngdoh said that the Commission would very closely monitor all election speeches and enforce the law "rigidly".

Asked to comment on reports that the Union Home Ministry declined EC's demand for 400 companies of Central paramilitary forces for the conduct of free and fair polls in Gujarat hit by communal violence, the CEC said that the issue had been settled with a discussion with the Home Secretary. "It could be 425 or 375. It should be alright."

To a question on what change that the Commission had noticed in the last eight to nine weeks to conduct polls after delaying the process, Lyngdoh said that it was not an "absolute delay" but only "conditional".

Asked whether the minorities would come out to exercise their franchise now, he said "I hope so."

On charges that he was an agent of Congress and an Italian and that those based on the fact that he was a Christian, Lyngdoh dismissed the issue saying that sometimes people make ridiculous statements. "It doesn't bother me at all."

To a question on the Commission's directives to the Gujarat government to remove hoardings and posters on communal lines, he said that it was being implemented fully.

To a question on what areas that the Commission would lay close watch in the run-up to the Gujarat polls, he said that there was a need to provide polling arrangements for those who were still in unofficial camps and the people who left the state.

Queried on his predecessor M S Gill's suggestion that there should be Governor's rule before the polls, Lyngdoh said, "I do not think that the mode of appointment of Governors has improved recently."

On suggestions from some quarters to increase the strength of EC to five or seven, he said three was big enough. "It is just about manageable. Three is alright. Anything more than three will be unwieldy."

Disagreeing with state funding of elections, the CEC said that the country was wasting a lot of state money on elections and no state could afford it.

Lyngdoh said he was not surprised about the turnout at the just concluded Assembly polls in Jammu and Kashmir. He said the Commission had made visits to the state and after the second visit of the full Commission, it came to know that there would be a chance to make "good elections".

PTI