Driving Naari Programme launched in Chandigarh
Chandigarh, Punjab Congress President Partap Singh Bajwa has demanded deployment of para-military forces during civic polls in the state and videography of the polling process.
In a memorandum submitted to the State Election Commission today, Bajwa said this was imperative in the wake of increasing lawlessness with the Akali goons playing havoc with the election process.
He said this had created a fear psychosis as the effort by the ruling Akali Dal to win these elections by hook or by crook. The voters and the Congress candidates were being openly threatened and intimated. False cases were also being registered against the Congress candidates and their supporters. He referred to the ugly incidents at Guru Harsahai, Tarn Taran, Malout, Qadian, Ramphura Phul and Faridkot etc.
He pointed out that in a similar situation in Bengal, the paramilitary forces were deployed in 2010 civic elections.
Talking to media persons Bajwa said Congress vice president Rahul Gandhi is will address a rally at Moga on March 29,” Punjab Congress chief Partap Singh Bajwa said.
“I have met him (Rahul) and he has assured me to visit Punjab,” he said, however, adding that the SAD-BJP combine government will create obstacles for people reaching the venue of the rally.
“The Badal family has control over 70 per cent of transport business in the state…they will not permit vehicle owners to ferry people for the rally,” he said.
Bajwa said that March 29 being a Sunday, so the Congress will utilise services of buses of educational institutions for ferrying people.
Congress in Punjab is plagued with severe infighting with a group led by former Chief Minister Capt Amarinder Singh and several sitting MLAs seeking ouster of Bajwa from the post of head of PPCC.
Besides, the party is out of power in the state for over seven years and during the last general elections, Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) showed its presence in the state by winning four Lok Sabha seats.
