BJP, Cong accuse each other of ‘kidnapping’ ward-12 candidate
A high-voltage political drama erupted in Panchayat Bhawan in the city over the withdrawal of nomination papers of Congress councillor candidate Jaspal Goldy in ward-12 of the Karnal Municipal Corporation (KMC) with BJP and Congress accusing each other of “kidnapping” Goldy.
While Congress leaders alleged that Goldy was “kidnapped” by BJP leaders to make him withdraw his nomination, BJP leaders accused Congress leaders for “kidnapping” Goldy from stopping him from withdrawing his papers.
Jaspal Goldy clarified that there are two candidates in this ward – he and BJP candidate Monik Garg. He went to Panchayat Bhawan after residents of his ward approached him and BJP candidate Monik Garg to decide which one of them would withdraw from the race.
“We had mutually agreed that one of us would step back, but when I reached there with Monik Garg to finalise the decision, some BJP supporters surrounded me and started manhandling me," Goldy alleged.
Meanwhile, Congress mayoral candidate Manoj Wadhwa, accompanied by Divyanshu Budhiraja, Dr Sunil Panwar, Nischay Sohi and others, arrived there and spoke with Goldy. After their conversation, Goldy declared that he would not withdraw his nomination and accused BJP leaders of mentally harassing him.
On the other hand, BJP candidate Garg maintained that Goldy had initially agreed to withdraw his nomination as part of a panchayat decision. “Jaspal Goldy is like my elder brother. We had decided that he would withdraw. But when we went to withdraw his nomination papers, some Congress leaders led by Manoj Wadhwa intervened and took him away," Monik alleged, accusing Congress of forcibly taking Goldy away.
Congress leaders, however, denied these claims. Manoj Wadhwa and Divyanshu Budhiraja said that Goldy informed them that he was being pressured to withdraw. “BJP leaders surrounded Goldy's car when we were taking him back to the party office," Budhiraja alleged, demanding action against BJP leaders for intimidation.
Wadhwa referred to it as the murder of democracy. If they want to make their councillors get elected unopposed, what is the need for elections, he asked. “We demand action in this case,” he demanded.
