Baghapurana MLA alleges harassment, quits Akali Dal
Wednesday, 23/11/2016
http://www.tribuneindia.com/news/punjab/baghapurana-mla-alleges-harassment-quits-akali-dal/327043.html
Says party using pressure tactics to quell revolt over ticket denial
Faridkot : Maheshinder Singh, sitting Akali MLA from Baghapurana, today resigned from the primary membership of the party. Mahesh, who was holding the post of SAD vice-president, alleged he quit the party after some Akali leaders used police force to intimidate him and his family.
He alleged: “A police party, led by SHOs of Nihal Singh Wala and Rampura Phul, reached my residence at Nihal Singh Wala and threatened me with dire consequences for inciting party workers to resign. Though I have nothing to do with any resignation by any member, the party’s top leadership is threatening me, which is insulting and intolerable.”
“The party had conveyed to me about the denial of ticket a month ago. Following this, some of my supporters quit the party. Believing that I was inciting them, the leadership was resorting to pressure tactics to intimidate me and my supporters,” alleged Maheshinder Singh while talking to The Tribune.
“The police threatened to arrest my son for his alleged connections with a gangster of Bathinda district. The use of police force was to intimidate me and my supporters, but I refused to succumb to these pressure tactics by the party leadership,” he alleged.
While Moga SSP Snehdeep Sharma could not be contacted, Nihal Singh Wala DSP Surinder Kumar claimed no police team visited the MLA’s house today. Even the Bathinda police feigned ignorance about any such “raid”.
On not resigning as MLA, Maheshinder said: “I was elected by the people and any decision regarding this will be taken after meeting my supporters in the constituency.”
The Akali Dal has been facing a tough time in Moga district following the denial of ticket to Rajwinder Kaur Bhagike, sitting Akali MLA from Nihal Singh Wala, and Maheshinder Singh.
Even in Moga, sitting MLA Joginder Pal Jain has decided not to contest the elections for his “intense political rivalry” with Agriculture Minister Tota Singh.
While in Baghapurana, the SAD has decided to field Tirth Singh Mahla, Moga district president, the name of Tota Singh’s son Barjinder Singh is among the frontrunners for the Moga ticket. He has already resigned as the Chairman of the Punjab State Health System Corporation.
Not in ticket race, says Qadian MLA
Chandigarh: Sitting MLA from Qadian Charanjit Kaur Bajwa on Tuesday supported the candidature of Fatehjung Bajwa, the younger brother of her husband and Rajya Sabha MP Partap Singh Bajwa. In a statement, the MLA said since she had not even applied for the ticket, there was no question of her contesting the forthcoming elections. "There is no doubt over the candidature of Fatehjung, who is ticket seeker from Qadian. Apart from my support, he has the support of his elder brother," she said. Earlier, Partap Bajwa had also stated that his wife Charanjit Kaur Bajwa would not be contesting the elections. TNS
AAP allying with criminals: Majithia
Chandigarh: Revenue Minister Bikram Singh Majithia today accused AAP national convener Arvind Kejriwal of being indecisive and taking frequent U-turns on all matters related to the state and even his party's policies. Majithia, in a press conference here this evening, said: "Against the principles on which AAP had laid its constitution, Kejriwal has inducted corrupt, criminal-minded and characterless persons in his party to gain power." "At least 23 MLAs of the party in Delhi are facing criminal charges. Kejriwal had termed AAP as a reformist party. But it is strange that the latest entrant, Simarjit Singh Bains, is facing criminal charges. The party has gone back on its earlier stand of not allying with any political party," he said.
