Chandigarh, January 11 : The Shiromani Akali Dal today filed a complaint with Election Commission of India against Congress party for its factually incorrect, mischievious and false advertisements targeted at SAD with the sole purpose of confusing the electorate. The party also sought exemplary action against Congress party for repeatedly flouting the directives of ECI despite earlier warnings issued to it by the Chief Election Commissioner. This is the second complaint by the SAD against the Congress party on the similar issue.
In a letter written to Chief Electoral Officer Punjab Ms Kusumjit Sidhu, the Party Secretary and Spokesman Dr. Daljit Singh Cheema mentioned that today’s advertisement of Congress party in various newspapers was factually incorrect and this advertisement was meant to mislead the electorate at this crucial juncture. He said that this advertisement was against the guidelines of ECI that no political party would attack each other, or raise an issue which was factually incorrect. He said that the advertisement has questioned the credibility of SAD-BJP government in setting up four universities and 17 colleges during last five years against the dismal performance of Congress party during its tenure. He said that according to the education department data, four universities including Guru Granth Sahib University, Chitkara University Patiala, Guru Kashi University Talwandi Sabo and Central University Ghudda (Bathinda) were established during last five years against one university set up by Congress government. Similarly it could be also checked that 17 colleges at Ghudda (Bathinda), Ghanour (Patiala), Jaiton (Faridkot), Sikhwala (Sri Mukatsar Sahib), Dhilwan (Barnala), Chunni Kalan (Fatehgarh Sahib), Guru Harsahai (Ferozepur), Chung (Tarntaran), Mithra (Kapurthala), Narotjaimal Singh (Gurdaspur), Sardoolgarh (Mansa), Nihalsinghwala (Moga), Ferozpur,Moonak(Sangrur),Balachour (SBS Nagar),Amargarh (sangrur) and Verka (Amritsar)have been set up during last five years and all infrastructure have been provided to these colleges besides completing the recruitment of staff.
He said that academic year has already been started in 13 colleges and even UGC has given its approval to 13 colleges after checking the infrastructure and other formalities. He said that the case of two colleges was pending with UGC. Dr. Cheema said that the government has already spent Rs113 crore on these colleges and the land for these colleges have been provided free of cost by the Punjab government.
Dr. Cheema said that it was the bounden duty of ECI to ensure that no political party misleads the people and publishes factually incorrect information in their advertisement campaign. He said that such undertakings were taken by ECI in various all party meetings convened by it but Congress party was deleberatly ignoring the guidelines and advisories of ECI.
Seeking exemplary action against Congress party for false the people with factually incorrect information with a mischievious intent, Dr. Cheema said that early action was required to maintain the sanctity of election process in Punjab.
