Register case against AAP MLAs for rigging Jalandhar bypoll: Akali Dal
Darpan News Desk IANS, 11 May, 2023 12:47 PM
Chandigarh, May 11 (IANS) The Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) on Thursday appealed to the Election Commission of India to register a case against all the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) legislators and senior leaders in Punjab for "rigging" the Jalandhar Lok Sabha bypoll held on Wednesday.
Addressing the media here, former state minister Bikram Singh Majithia said that AAP legislators who had been caught in Jalandhar on the polling day or had been photographed there included Dalbir Singh Tong, Daljit Singh Grewal, Jasbir Sandhu, Gurpreet Gogi, Amolak Singh, Madan Lal Bagga and Ajay Gupta.
"Videography inside the booths was also not done, while Gaurav Montu, an AAP leader close to minister Inderbir Singh Nijher, was even caught by SAD-BSP candidate Sukhwinder Sukhi while in possession of seals meant for ballot boxes," Majithia said.
He also said that SSP Mukhwinder Bhullar tried to prevail upon SAD workers to let Montu go free, indicating that the entire administration was under the influence of the AAP government.
The SAD leader then alleged indifference on the part of Deputy Commissioner Jaspreet Singh towards the complaints filed by the Opposition in this regard.
Asserting that the SAD stood with the beleaguered peasantry, he announced the party would oppose collection of penalties imposed on the farmers, besides launching a sustained campaign in case the red entries in land records were not revoked.
The arrested individuals have been identified as Manpreet Singh and Bhupinder Singh -- both from Faridkot; and Baljit Singh of Muktsar Sahib. The DGP said the police had established the identity of two of the main shooters -- Manpreet and Bhupinder -- on the first day of the crime and a manhunt was launched in this regard.
Police said that they have arrested nine people, including an Assam Rifles Head Constable, of the gang. Meanwhile, a manhunt has been initiated to nab other accused which also includes a Delhi-based lawyer.
Keeping in view the declining cases of Covid-19 in the country, the government on Wednesday removed mandatory requirement to wear masks in flights. The Ministry of Civil Aviation said that the decision has been taken following a review meeting on the issue with the Ministry of Health.
A police spokesperson said the case properties of drug cases registered under the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Act, 1985, in Amritsar and Fazilka were destroyed on Tuesday.
Addressing a gathering during at a state-level function to mark the martyrdom day of the Shaheed Kartar Singh Sarabha at his native village here, the Chief Minister said bestowing the Bharat Ratna award to Shaheed Bhagat Singh, Shaheed Kartar Singh Sarabha, Shaheed Rajguru, Shaheed Sukhdev, Lala Lajpat Rai and others will enhance the prestige of this award.
