(Image source from: indiatvnews.com)

Election Commission of India has filed a complaint with the  Delhi Police on Friday asking it to investigate “fake news” about online voting rights to Non-Resident Indians in the upcoming Lok Sabha election.

In the Police complaint Election Commission stated, “I am directed to state that fake news reagrding the online voting by the NRIs in General Election 2019 is being circulated on WhatsApp etc. This fake news contains the log of the ECI. The Publication of such fake news is causing confusion to the public thereby creating public nuisance and mischief. The unauthorised use of the ECI logo and completely false statement regarding online voting seems to be donr with deliberate intent to cause mischief and mislead the public. ECI has already asked WhatsApp, Twitter to remove this fake news.”

Earlier Election commission clarified that NRIs have not been extended right to cast their votes in the 2019 General election.

“If it happens, it needs amendment to the Representation of the People Act. No such amendment has taken place,” the spokesperson said.

At present, the general procedure is Indians residing in other countries have to register online as voter, come to India, go to their constituency with the original passport issued to them when they had gone abroad and cast vote.

According to official estimates of the ministry of external affairs, there are about 3.10 crore NRIs living in different countries across the world.

A committee of the Election Commission had said no to online voting for NRIs but approved proxy voting.

A bill has been prepared to extend proxy voting rights to NRIs was passed in Lok Sabha recently but is pending in Rajya Sabha.

The bill will lapse after dissolution of present Lok Sabha this June.

-Sai Kumar