AAP candidates say no to guards

Jupinderjit Singh and Balwant Garg

Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, January 19

A day after the Punjab Police trimmed security provided to Akali leaders, withdrawing 1,200 security guards and 28 escort vehicles, candidates of the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) today declined to accept guards provided to them by the Election Commission.

“All 112 AAP candidates have written to their respective returning officers that they will not accept the security cover provided to them by the Election Commission as per the norms,” a party spokesperson said.

Defending the guards provided to party convener Arvind Kejriwal, he explained, "This is because he is CM."

Kanwar Sandhu, the party’s candidate from Kharar, said since the “people are our shield, we don’t need police guards." Himmat Singh Shergill, the candidate from Majitha and head of the party’s legal wing, said he wanted the police to use the guards in their fight against the drugs instead.

Mansa candidate Nazar Singh Mansahia said he had been provided three police constables. "We are ordinary citizens. We don’t want a barrier between us and the voters.”

More than 400 security guards were attached with VIPs in the seven districts of the Bathinda police range, including Bathinda, Muktsar, Mansa, Ferozepur, Fazilka, Faridkot and Moga. As per the police record, Janmeja Singh Sekhon, PWD Minister, had been given 36 guards. His security cover has now been pruned to 18 gunmen. Muktsar Akali leader Dayal Singh Kolianwali and his son were provided 19 gunmen.They now have seven.

The security cover of Congress leaders too has been pruned. Sunil Jakhar, senior Congress leader from Abohar, who had 12 police guards, now has four. Bhupinder Singh Gora, Punjab Congress general secretary from Maur, is left with three guards. He earlier had 11 gunmen.