SAD requests Governor to countermand municipal polls

Tribune News Service
Chandigarh, February 9

The Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) on Tuesday requested Punjab Governor V P Singh Badnore to direct the Punjab government to countermand the election at all places where nomination papers of opposition candidates had been rejected en masse even as it asked him to intervene, and ensure deployment of para-military forces ensuring free and fair elections to the municipal bodies.

A senior delegation of the SAD including Prof Prem Singh Chandumajra, Maheshinder Singh Grewal, Dr Daljit Singh Cheema and Surjit Singh Rakhra called on the Governor and apprised him of the total collapse in the law and order machinery in the State and requested him to intervene to restore the rule of law.

The delegation informed the Governor about the murderous attack on the SAD President and former deputy chief minister Sukhbir Singh Badal at Jalalabad recently and apprised him that the State government was yet to proceed in the matter as per the complaint submitted by the SP, Security of the SAD President.

The delegation members said the Governor could realize that when a ‘Z plus’ protectee was not secure what would be the fate of the common man.

It requested the Governor to direct the government to take action against the Congress legislator and the latter’s son as per the complaint filed by the SAD President’s security detail.

Prof Prem Singh Chandumajra also informed the Governor that the State Election Commission (SEC) has abrogated its responsibility towards the people and he should intervene to restore the confidence of the people in the democratic process.

He said the nomination papers of opposition candidates had been rejected en masse in Zira, Guruharsahai, Maluka, Mehraj, Bhai Roopa, Mandi Gobindgarh and Ferozepur.

“A SAD delegation led by Dr Daljit Cheema requested the SEC to countermand the elections at these places and hold them afresh but the SEC expressed its helplessness to do anything in the matter”.

Prof Chandumajra requested the Governor to direct fresh elections on these seats besides directing deployment of para-military forces, allowing videography inside polling booths and ensuring votes were polled on the same day itself and there was no delay on this score.

The SAD delegation also requested the Governor to direct the State government to take action against Congress goons who had resorted to violence at many places including Bhikhiwind where the residence of an SAD leader was attacked by armed assailants in the present on the local police.

It said there were also instances of vandalizing of vehicles of Akali supporters at some places and other irregularities including changing of wards of many votes in Batala municipal committee.

He said the wards of several hundred voters were changed in Batala after the allotment of the election symbol to the candidates.

The delegation members including Prof Chandumajra, Grewal, Dr Cheema and Rakhra also informed the Governor that the recent incidents of violence had the propensity to spoil the peace and communal harmony in the State and emergent action was needed to ensure this did not happen.

They said it was on utmost importance for the Governor to intervene because Chief Minister Capt Amarinder Singh had been informed about the situation at the All Party meeting but did not do anything in the matter.

Later Maheshinder Grewal told newsmen that the party delegation had also brought the video put out by Congress legislator Amarinder Singh Raja Warring in which he threatened the SAD President to the notice of the Governor.

He said the delegation asked the Governor to direct the State government to take action against Warring to ensure no one was allowed to take the law in his own hands.