AAP workers get EC notice, detained for taking feedback

Mohit Khanna

Tribune News Service

Ludhiana, January 9

Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) volunteers are facing trouble over an “oath letter” by party convener Arvind Kejriwal. The letter contains a registration form, in which the names and phone numbers of residents are jotted down.

In the past week, two cases were reported in which AAP volunteers faced a backlash for filling the form.

On January 6, Subdivisional Magistrate (SDM) and Returning Officer for the Samrala segment Nidhi Kalotara served two notices on the local unit of AAP for filling forms. The notices were served on a complaint by the Congress. The authorities are examining whether or not the act amounts to violation of the model code of conduct.

The next day, two supporters of AAP’s Ludhiana East candidate Daljit Singh Grewal alias Bhola were rounded up from Jodhewal when they were filling the forms. They were let off following a protest by Grewal and his supporters.

AAP leaders claimed that writing names and phone numbers of residents on a form was not unconstitutional.

Darshan Singh Shankar, an AAP Ludhiana zone observer, said, “Is writing the name of residents on a form illegal? The Opposition parties are unnecessarily creating a controversy. Congress workers filled forms for issuing mobile phones, but we never objected to it.”

He has brought the matter to the notice of the Police Commissioner. “Some policemen are still working under the influence of their political masters,” Shankar alleged.

Sources said that in the garb of the “oath letter”, party volunteers were filling a feedback from. The candidates have been instructed to collect phone numbers of people they are visiting.

“The party headquarters is calling residents for their feedback. Leaders are asking people whether or not candidates and their supporters were well behaved. They are also asking voters whether they are satisfied with candidates. We cannot fool the leadership by showing a dummy list of residents to claim that we have covered every house in a constituency,” said an AAP worker busy jotting down details of residents.

Shankar, though, claimed that party leaders did not call residents. “We are following the orders, jotting down names and phone numbers,” he added.