Candidates roughed up, complains Cong

On the last date of filing nomination papers for the civic poll, the Congress today complained of several incidents of its workers being roughed up and the nomination papers of its candidates being torn in municipal councils/ nagar panchayats in Zira, Samana, Bagha Purana, Bhikhiwind and Patiala.

Highlighting the alleged highhandedness of the civil and police administration in preventing Congress candidates from filing nomination papers, PCC chief Amrinder Singh Raja Warring said first, it was the panchayat poll and now, the civic body poll in which the AAP-led government was resorting to violence to prevent the democratic process.

He alleged that in Makhu, the Congress leaders were roughed up in the presence of the police. Nomination papers of candidates were torn in Zira, Samana, Bagha Purana and Bhikhiwind. He said the party had brought these to the notice of the State Election Commission. “By not allowing Opposition candidates to file nomination, the AAP government has made it a one-sided election”.

Leader of Opposition Partap Singh Bajwa said it was the saddest day in democracy. “Can a party stoop to such a level that it is choking the voice of the common man by tampering with the election process. I warn the CM that the party will not be able to do the same in the 2027 Assembly elections. People will give a befitting reply to the AAP,” said Bajwa.