Punjab Congress on Monday filed a complaint with the Election Commission against Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal, all SAD-BJP candidates, and NDA’s prime ministerial candidate Narendra Modi for “blatant violation” of Model Code of Conduct by seeking votes in the name of martyrs at Khatkar Kalan a day before.
The party, in its complaint, has alleged that Badal and SAD-BJP candidate for Anandpur Sahib constituency Prem Singh Chandumajra at a function at Khatkar Kalan in Nawanshahr on Sunday sought votes for Narendra Modi and SAD-BJP candidates by invoking freedom fighters.
“The act of Badal is blatant violation of Model Code of Conduct by seeking votes for SAD-BJP nominees in the name of martyrs at Khatkar Kalan in Nawanshahr on Sunday,” stated the complaint, filed by the party’s Election Committee (legal) chairman Surjit Singh Swaich.
March 23, the death anniversary of freedom fighters Bhagat Singh, Rajguru and Sukhdev, was observed as Martyrs Day.
Badal, while addressing the gathering, not only made a political speech but also asked people to vote for SAD-BJP candidates to form NDA Government headed by Narendra Modi at the Centre, it added.
“Invoking martyrs and seeking votes in their name at martyrdom function by Badal is a blatant violation of the Model Code of Conduct… Chandumajra is equally guilty of the violation as he was also present at the function and Badal being the leader of SAD-BJP ruling alliance made a political speech with his consent and connivance,” alleged the Congress.
The complaint further stated that Badal’s “political speech was telecast by different TV channels and therefore the speech was not only meant for gathering at Khatkar Kalan village, but he targeted all voters in Punjab where TV is widely viewed”.
Not only Badal, but all SAD-BJP candidates in the State, including Arun Jaitley from Amritsar lok Sabha seat are guilty of violation of the Model Code of Conduct, Congress claimed.
In the name of martyrs, Badal exhorted the voters to bring NDA to power at the Centre and specifically named Modi at the function and so Modi was also guilty, Congress alleged, adding that their this action also “amounts to corrupt practice under the law”.
In an another complaint, Punjab Congress has alleged “questionable, unfair, partisan and politically motivated allocation of security personnel” on the instructions of Deputy Chief Minister-cum-Home Minister Sukhbir Badal, State police chief Sumedh Singh Saini directly influencing voters of the State.
The party maintained that the “flawed system of allocation of security personnel is not based on any lawful criteria, but a method devised to please ruling party henchmen and in turn gain support for the SAD-BJP alliance”.
Substantiating his point with a list of protectees of Muktsar — Badals home district, the party spokesperson Sukhpal Singh Khaira in his compliant alleged that many Akali jathedars, tainted and unknown persons have been provided security, merely for their close proximity with Badal family. “The sole criteria appear to be loyalty and political support to the Badals, in lieu of security allocation,” he added.
Alleging that the threat perception was also assessed on political directions of Sukhbir to the DGP and not on merit, the complaint urged the Commission to seek a detailed report of allocation of security personnel across the State of Punjab, without any further delay as the same is “creating an impediment to free and fair elections”.