SAD-BJP misusing official machinery, Cong tells Guv
Tuesday, 14/05/2013
http://www.tribuneindia.com/2013/20130514/punjab.htm#3
Chandigarh : PPCC president Partap Singh Bajwa today submitted a memorandum to Governor Shivraj Patil, alleging that the SAD-BJP government was misusing the official machinery to force Congress candidates to withdraw their nominations for the zila parishad and panchayat samiti elections.
Bajwa expressed apprehensions of rigging in the poll. The memorandum stated party workers were being threatened to withdraw their nomination or face false cases. Sources said the Governor assured the delegation of taking up the issue with the appropriate authority.
Bajwa said Congress workers would not back out from the contest. “The killing of Youth Congress leader Sukhraj Singh at Patti a few days back by Akali goons and firing on Congress MLA Rana Sodhi at Ferozepur is reflective of the reign of terror and the complete breakdown of the law and order situation in Punjab. The state police is either a mute spectator in most of the cases or is hand in glove with the accused,” the memorandum stated.
The PPCC demanded deployment of paramilitary forces at all the polling stations and videotaping of the voting exercise. The memorandum said no officer on contractual duty or re-employed be given any important election duty. Those who accompanied Bajwa included former Chief Minister Rajinder Kaur Bhattal, MPs Mohinder Singh Kay Pee and Sukhdev Singh Libra.
