Congress: Ruling alliance resorting to
strong-arm tactics
Prabhjot Singh
Tribune News Service

Gurdaspur, May 4
Congress candidate Partap Singh Bajwa, in a complaint lodged with the Election Commission, has objected to the ruling SAD-BJP alliance for resorting to “blue card politics to browbeat voters belonging to weaker sections of society”. In his complaint, Bajwa has alleged that depot holders had been instructed to collect blue ration cards from beneficiaries with intent to stop supplies of subsidised atta and dal to those who do not vote for the alliance candidate here.

These instructions, he maintains, were held yesterday where a senior official of the Food and Supply Department gave the instructions to the depot holders. A couple of depot holders admitted attending the meeting, but refused to divulge what transpired there. Talking to The Tribune, Bajwa said he had irrefutable evidence to substantiate his charges. Not only that, even those who were beneficiaries of other welfare schemes like oldage pension had also been threatened of similar consequences in case they did not vote for the alliance candidate.

“These are clear blatant violations of the model code of conduct and amount to total misuse of official machinery to woo voters,” he added. Claiming that he was the front-runner for the Gurdaspur seat, Partap claimed that reason for voters turning his way was his proximity and easy accessibility to people of the area. “I come from a nationalist and patriotic family. My father remained MLA and a Minister for five terms. My elder brother is a hero of Kargil war. I remained MLA and a Minister in Punjab. Besides, I was the one-member delegation that appeared against the so-called Council of Khalistan headed by Gurbachan Singh Manochahal. I was the one who held a dharna outside Chowk Mehta when Sant Jarnail Singh Bhindranwale was alive,” claims Partap Bajwa.

“Unprecedented response of people of Gurdaspur to the massive rally we had yesterday is perhaps answer to my dedication to people of Gurdaspur. I am going to be the first Congress leader, a son of the soil, to defeat alliance candidate for the first time. I am also going to be the first one in the country to defeat a Bollywood star in Lok Sabha elections,” he added.

He is locked in a direct contest with Vinod Khanna, the SAD-BJP candidate, who has represented Gurdaspur for three consecutive terms. Before him, it was Sukhbuns Kaur Bhinder of Congress who had five terms in Lok Sabha.