PUNJAB MC POLLS : Cong candidates fail to file papers in Guruharsahai

Ferozepur, Amid high drama at the Municipal Committee (MC) office in Guruharsahai today, Congress candidates failed to submit their nomination papers with SDM-cum-Returning Officer Jaspal Singh Gill.
Congress MLA Rana Gurmit Singh Sodhi alleged that armed Akali workers blocked their way and did not let them enter the office.
“I was asked by the SDM to reach the office along with the party candidates at 2 pm for filing papers. As we started from my residence, DSP Sulakhan Singh asked us to wait, saying there was a heavy rush outside the MC office.
“When we reached the MC office by 2.40 pm, Akali workers were present there in large numbers and the SDM had bolted the door from inside. All efforts to reach the SDM proved futile,” Sodhi claimed.
He said the SDM came out at 3.05 pm and told the Congress candidates that he could not accept their papers as they had reached the office past the 3 pm deadline
Sodhi accused the SDM and other district officials of playing into the hands of SAD halqa chief Vardev Singh Mann.
“This is sheer murder of democracy. We have been deliberately prevented from filing papers. District officials and SAD leaders are clearly working hand in glove,” he said.
When contacted, Gill said he received a phone call from Sodhi, informing him that he and his party men would arrive at his office at 2 pm. “I kept waiting in my office, but they did not show up. They could have filed their papers earlier too as I have been accepting nominations for the past three days.
“They did not have to wait till the last moment to do so,” he argued.
Yesterday, Congress nominees Atamjit Singh David and Anish Demra alias Nikku were allegedly thrashed by a group of persons owing allegiance to the SAD. Sulakhan Singh, DSP, said the police had registered a case against SAD leaders Montu Vohra and Gursewak Singh Mann alias Kash and a few others under Sections 379,323,148,149,427 of the IPC on the compliant of one of the victims.
About today’s incident, the DSP claimed that they had cleared the rush to help the Congress MLA and his supporters reach the MC office.
“But by the time they arrived there, it was too late,” he said, ruling out any foul play.