Police, goons stopped candidates from filing papers, alleges Opposition
Women candidates and supporters of Opposition parties were allegedly beaten up, their nomination files were snatched and workers were attacked both inside and outside the Mini Secretariat complex as on-duty policemen turned mute spectators on the last day of nominations for the Municipal Corporation poll.
Following the alleged reports of manhandling of candidates and problems faced by them, the Punjab State Election Commissioner has sought a report from the District Electoral Officer, Patiala.
While the AAP candidates and workers were seen entering and leaving the Mini Secretariat without trouble, the candidates filing nomination papers on Akali, Congress and BJP ticket faced harassment. Videos showed how the attackers fled after tearing or snatching files in police presence and how the senior leaders argued on the spot.
“Goons — in connivance with cops — snatched files, attacked women and elderly. Many candidates had to jump over walls to enter and file nominations. When we managed to reach inside, political goons were already waiting inside to attack us and tear our files,” said BJP candidate Varun Jindal.
Many Akali, Congress and BJP candidates were rounded up by the police on flimsy grounds hours before the nominations. “While the police did not allow me inside the secretariat building, I was attacked by AAP workers. They did not even hesitate to use force against me as my cries for help to an on-duty SHO and his men fell on deaf ears. My nomination papers were snatched and I was roughed up along with my relatives,” said Congress candidate Sukhwinder Kaur.
Many Opposition candidates, including women, faced the wrath of unidentified men who attacked and tore their nomination papers in the presence of the police. Hundreds of such videos went viral, highlighting complete mismanagement on part of the authorities.
“You can see how the local police are acting at the behest of three local MLAs, who are present there without any authority and ensuring that no one from the BJP files nomination papers. It is complete murder of democracy and the senior officers have gone incommunicado,” alleged former Patiala MP and BJP leader Preneet Kaur. “Our candidates were attacked in my presence and from 12 noon to 2 pm, our candidates were not allowed to enter the Returning Officer’s room,” she added.
Punjab Congress chief Amrinder Singh Raja Warring and Youth Congress Punjab chief Mohit Mohindra said that “police selectively used force to disperse Congress workers and candidates” to ensure the victory of AAP candidates without contest. “They attacked women candidates in front of us and even threatened them if they filed nomination papers. The police rounded up relatives of our candidates on flimsy grounds,” they alleged.
Senior SAD leader Bikram Singh Majithia said that “it was shameful how the Patiala police played a partisan role under the AAP government”. “The election commission should intervene,” he said.
Patiala SSP Nanak Singh said that police were completely neutral and there was “complete law and order for filing of nomination papers on the last day without any violence”.
Punjab State Election Commissioner Raj Kamal Chaudhary said: “Instructions have been issued by the commission to all DCs to ensure presence of Returning Officers on the dates and times fixed for filing nominations. To ascertain the facts, the commission will call for a report from the DC-cum-DEO Patiala,” he told The Tribune.
