Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) on Tuesday requested Punjab Governor VP Singh Badnore to direct the Congress-led Punjab Government to countermand the election at all places where nomination papers of opposition candidates had been rejected en masse. At the same time, the party also asked the Governor to intervene and ensure deployment of paramilitary forces to ensure free and fair elections to the municipal bodies, scheduled to be held on February 14.
SAD’s senior delegation, including former MP Prem Singh Chandumajra, former MInister Maheshinder Singh Grewal, former Minister Daljit Singh Cheema, and former Minister Surjit Singh Rakhra, called on the Governor to apprise 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 SAD president Sukhbir Singh Badal at Jalalabad recently and apprised him that the State Govt was yet to proceed in the matter as per the complaint submitted by the SP, Security of the SAD president.
Chandumajra SAID 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.
“The nomination papers of opposition candidates had been rejected en masse in Zira, Guru Har Sahai, Maluka, Mehraj, Bhai Roopa, Mandi Gobindgarh and Ferozepur,” he said adding that SAD delegation had 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. He requested the Governor to direct fresh elections on these seats besides directing deployment of paramilitary forces, allowing videography inside polling booths, and ensuring votes were polled on the same day itself and there was no delay on this score.