Akalis influencing ward demarcation in villages: Cong
Friday, 23/11/2012
http://www.tribuneindia.com/2012/20121123/punjab.htm#7
Muktsar : With the initiation of demarcation process for village wards, the local Congress leadership today came out with its allegation against the ruling Akali Dal's constituency heads allegedly putting undue pressure on bureaucrats to get things done as per their wish. The demarcation of wards is being done for the panchayat and other rural body elections scheduled to be held next year.
Crying foul over the issue, two sitting and a former Congress MLA, including Karan Kaur Brar (Muktsar), Amarinder Singh "Raja" Warring (Gidderbaha) and Nathu Ram (Malout), have shot off letters to election officials, both at the state and the national level, Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal and Muktsar Deputy Commissioner Paramjit Singh.
In their letters, the Congress leaders have lodged a complaint against alleged undue pressure and interference of the defeated SAD candidates who were later designated by the party as in-charge of their respective constituencies from where they had contested unsuccessfully.
The three Congress leaders have demanded that panchayat secretaries must consult all political representatives in each village before demarcating the wards afresh. Warring said, "We have evidence to show that Shiromani Akali Dal's constituency heads have been putting undue pressure upon panchayat secretaries. We want the constitutional dignitaries to ensure that such practice is stopped. Otherwise, we will act on our own against these leaders."
Muktsar district has 234 villages with 263 panchayats. Of these, 94 are in Muktsar block, 54 in Gidderbaha block and 59 in Lambi block. Following directions from the district administration, the authorities are on their toes these days to complete the whole process of demarcation of village wards by November 30.
