Congress dismisses SAD-BJP claim of victory in BS, ZP elections
Chandigarh, May 21- Mr. Partap Singh Bajwa President of Punjab Pradesh Congress Committee (PPCC) today dismissed as ‘mischievous’ the claim of land slide victory in Block Samiti and Zila Parishad elections made by SAD-BJP government. “It is not a popular mandate rather murder of democracy”, Bajwa stated.
Mr.Bajwa in a statement here said that the people of Manna, the village adjoining to native village of the Chief Minister Mr.Parkash Singh Badal had felt the first taste of so called victory of SAD-BJP alliance where the Punjab Police has booked 150 persons for rioting. He said that the violence in Manna village was reaction to mass booth capturing by a mob led by OSD to the Dy. Chief Minister.
PPCC President said that registration of criminal cases against residents of whole village by police was an attempt to gag the voice of public. “It is telling story of terror created by SAD-BJP government before and after the elections”, he stated and added that Chief Minister was unable to feel the undercurrent of anger in people against rigging. He said that if this was state of affairs in home constituency of Chief Minister, the plight of people in rest of the state can’t be different.
Mr.Bajwa said that Congress had taken the decision to fight the Block Samiti and Zila Parishad elections to safeguard the people’s faith in democracy and they have succeeded in their aim. He said that organized violence against Congress workers was an attempt by the ruling alliance to frustrate the Congress cadre and win unopposed. “We have defeated the design of SAD-BJP alliance and ensured the maximum possible participation of people. This is real victory of people of Punjab”, he added.
Mr. Bajwa however complimented the Congress candidates who won despite all odds and party workers for fighting vigorously against the coercive methods adopted by the SAD-BJP alliance to suppress the voters and particularly the Congress cadre. He said that ruling alliance had made brazen attempts to hijack the election process in connivance with the State Election Commission and Punjab Police right from the time of demarcation of zones for Block Samiti and Zila Parishad. He said that names of Congress voters were deleted and zones were demarked arbitrarily. The Congress candidates were coerced and their nomination papers were rejected without citing any valid reason.
PPCC President said that Congress raised the issue at every stage and submitted two memorandums with ample evidence of violations and highhandedness by SAD-BJP alliance. The stand of Congress party that free and fair election is not possible in the given circumstances was proved right by the independent media reports. He said that notwithstanding claims by SAD-BJP government, the people of Punjab are witness to rigging by way of pre-poll violence, political murders of opposition candidate and workers, booth capturing at large scale.
Mr. Bajwa said that SAD-BJP alliance leaders were free to celebrate their victory but Congress has serious concerns about the future of Punjab and mainly worried about the credibility of democratic institutions and eroding faith of people in the democratic process. He said that he was saddened to see the decline in moral values and lack of accountability in ruling alliance leaders. He stated that SAD-BJP had formed an opportunist alliance and their only agenda is to grab and ruin the democratic institutions.
Mr. Bajwa said SAD-BJP alliance had broke the faith of people in democracy and weakened the foundation of democratic institutions by leaps of their actions. He said founders of constitution had given the right to people to vote fearlessly.
