Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) on Thursday said that the low turnout in Gurdaspur parliamentary bypoll was a direct result of the planned intimidation of SAD-BJP workers by the Congress Government. At the same time, the party lauded the people for participating in the democratic process despite grave provocations.
“All our apprehensions have come true,” said the former Minister and party spokesman Daljit Singh Cheema.
He said: “We have been claiming that the Government has enlisted the civil and police machinery to threaten and coerce Akali-BJP panches, sarpanches and Municipal Councilors not to participate in the election process. This has been proven by the low turnout on polling day despite the deep sense of disenchantment and anger against the ruling Congress Government for reneging on all its poll promises including loan waiver and jobs for all.”
Cheema said that even on polling day, Akali-BJP sympathisers were threatened in villages and warned with dire consequences if they stepped out of their houses.
“Those who did not heed the warnings like former Pahra village sarpanch Happy Pahra in Gurdaspur assembly segment were attacked and seriously injured. SAD polling agents were roughed up at other places to create a fear psychosis amongst the people and keep our supporters out of the polling booths,” he added.
Stating that the poll percentage would have even crossed 80 per cent mark if not for apprehension of violence which kept a large number of people away from the booths, Cheema said that the same seat recorded a voting percentage of 70 per cent in the last general elections. “There is no other reason for the low voting percentage of 56 per cent in this by poll”, he added.