Sunday elections witnessed claims and counterclaims by the political parties in Punjab on violence during the Panchayati Raj polls.
The ruling Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) dubbed the elections as peaceful, while the Opposition trained its guns at the ruling claiming that large scale violence and booth capturing marred the polling.
Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal described the “smooth, peaceful and free and fair” conduct of civic elections in Punjab as “a triumph of democracy” in the State.
His deputy son, and SAD chief Sukhbir Badal congratulated the people and thanked the leaders, office bearers and workers of his party to ensure the success of party’s and alliance candidates in a most peaceful and civilised expression of democratic will.
“I am proud of my workers for the way in which they resisted all provocations to violence and acted with restraint to ensure smooth and peaceful poll. They raised the bar for self-restraint and responsible democratic conduct. They deserve to be congratulated and thanked,” said Sukhbir.
“The people of the State have given a befitting reply to forces, who were out to tarnish the state’s image by talking of terror, violence and even going to the extent of throwing democracy in the dustbin and bringing back draconian President’s rule. This is a victory of peace and communal harmony in the State,” said Badal.
Chief Minister also appealed to the Opposition political parties to stick to politics of principles, respecting democratic norms and focusing on people’s issues.
On the other hand, Punjab Congress president Partap Singh Bajwa strongly condemned the large scale violence and booth capturing by the SAD workers. “In lambi, SAD goons have burnt vehicles, beat up voters and issued threats to poll staff. Reports of booth capturing and violence were received from all over the State,” said Bajwa.
Bajwa hailed the Congress workers for maintaining calm despite high provocation by Akali Dal workers. “Police is a mute spectator to naked dance of ‘gundagardi’ by Akalis,” said Bajwa, while thanking the people for huge turnout.
Strongly condemning the role of State Election Commissioner SS Brar, “who didn’t act in time and rather gave free hand to SAD-BJP alliance to rig the elections”, Bajwa said that he had submitted two memorandums fearing violence but Brar didn’t force police to deposit fire arms.
Bajwa added that in Sehna village in Bhadaur constituency, armed SAD workers came in two buses from Jaitu and captured booths. Similar incidents of booth capturing occurred in Hathara zone in Malerkotla, at Sambhu Kalan, loh Chimbari and Sekhupur Karkeri in Ghanaur constituency and Kheri opposite Punjabi University in Sanaur, Tharuna in Shutrana, Samana, Mukatsar, Gidderbaha, Jalalabad, Dharmkot, Guru Harsahai and Ferozepur rural. He claimed that several Congress workers were injured and party is awaiting more details.