Election Commission of India has slapped a notice on the ruling Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) for organising a “political” rally at Sri Anandpur Sahib on the occasion of ‘Hola Mohalla’ in violation of its orders.
“The ECI had sent a notice to SAD secretary Daljeet Singh Cheema seeking reply why the party had organised a political rally at Sri Anandpur Sahib when permission to hold the same was denied by the poll body,” informed Punjab's Additional Chief Electoral Officer (ACEO) Supreet Singh Gulati.
The main Opposition in Punjab, Congress had moved the Commission against the ruling SAD’s move to organise a political rally at Sri Anandpur Sahib on the religious occasion of annual ‘Hola Mohalla’ fair in violation of the Model Code of Conduct (MCC)
Congress had alleged that Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal had addressed the gathering on the occasion and termed the EC's directive to not to hold the conference with the period of emergency.
Election Commission issued the notice after going through the video footage of Badal's March 16 ‘Hola Mohalla’ speech and his address to media.
The poll body had on March 15 banned political meetings and conferences during 'Hola Mohalla' celebrations when SAD had made elaborate arrangements for the rally.
Meanwhile, EC has also ordered the cancellation of all political rallies during Baisakhi celebrations at Talwandi Sabo and Bathinda on April 13.
DAY ONE: SIX NOMINATIONS, FIVE INDEPENDENTS
Six candidates, including five independents, have filed their papers on Wednesday on the first day of filing of nominations for Punjab's 13 lok Sabha seats where polling will be held on April 30.
The State Additional Chief Electoral Officer Supreet Singh Gulati said that six nominees, one of CPI (M) and
five Independents, had filed their nomination papers between the official timings
11 am to 3 pm.
CPI (M) candidate from Sri Anandpur Sahib Balbir Singh filed two sets of nominations, and Raghunath Singh filed papers as his covering candidate.
The Independents who filed their nominations are Badal Singh from Faridkot, Manpreet Singh from Bathinda, Manoj Kumar from Sangrur, Rajinder Singh Pawar from Patiala and Sukhchain Chand from Khadoor Sahib. Sukhchain is a nominee of the Democratic Bhartiya Samaj.
Filing of nomination will continue till April 9, scrutiny will take place the next day and withdrawal will take place till April 12 when the final picture of contestants will become known. No nomination has been filed in the remaining seven districts — Gurdaspur, Amritsar, Ferozepur, Jalandhar, Fatehgarh Sahib, Hoshiarpur, and ludhiana.
MAJOR DRUG HAUl: 3,000 KGS OF POPPY HUSK SEIZED BY JAlANDHAR POlICE
Additional CEO B Purushartha said that Jalandhar police have recovered 3,000 kilograms of poppy husk on late Tuesday night that was being brought from Indore.
In the case, two persons have been arrested and investigations were on.
He added that only on Tuesday a total of 3,162 kgs of poppy husk was seized in the state, including 3,000 kg recovery by the Jalandhar police alone.