Allegations, counter allegations on from both sides

Jaswant Shetra
Tribune News Service
Ludhiana, May 20

A day after the police booked two Congress workers for allegedly assaulting social activist Anmol Kwatra and his father Raju Kwatra, the course of allegations and counter allegations by both sides against each other continued.

Congress councillor from Ward Number 88, Manpreet alias Mani Grewal has accused Anmol Kwatra and his father Raju Kwatra of trying to tarnish his image by leveling false allegations against him out of political rivalry.

During a press conference here today, Mani Grewal claimed that he had been receiving threats on phone from some unidentified persons.

“Raju Kwatra had contested the Municipal Corporation elections against me on Lok Insaaf Party (LIP) ticket and I had defeated him. Since then, Raju has not been on good terms with me. Now Raju and his son Anmol Kwatra have been leveling baseless allegations against me out of political rivalry,” claimed Mani Grewal.

Mani also accused Anmol Kwatra of misusing supporters of his NGO to create pressure on him and his supporters.

He claimed that it was Raju Kwatra, who hurled abusive remarks, following which a scuffle ensued.

“When voting was about to end last evening, I called my supporter Mohit Rampal to cast his vote and it was there Raju Kwatra entered into argument with him. Raju then called his son Anmol, who, accompanied by several youths, arrived there and challenged him after which both parties entered into a clash,” claimed Mani Grewal.

Anmol Kwatra on the other hand said he was never involved in politics and the Congress councillor has now been making false claims to save his image.

“I have never been involved in politics and I have also been supporting my father, who was attacked by a Congress councillor and his supporters when he had gone to cast his vote,” said Anmol.

The clash between Anmol Kwatra and Congress supporters took place during polling of votes yesterday.

Following the clash, Anmol Kwatra and his large number of supporters had laid a siege to Shivpuri Chowk past evening to demand action against the Congress councillor and his supporters. Later, the police booked two persons in the case.

Anmol runs an NGO called We Do Not Accept Money or Things and he has been quite popular in the Facebook community for the work being done by him for the poor.