Punjab: Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leaders have accused the ruling Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) of misusing power and abusing government machinery to win civic polls. BJP state general secretary Anil Sareen said that at around 6 am today, Punjab police arrested Gautam Sood, BJP candidate from ward no. 2 of Ghanaur Nagar Panchayat, on the grounds that he abused someone and misbehaved with police during a raid at Sood’s house in the wee hours. Gautam was declared BJP candidate from ward no. 2 on December 10. “Police have registered a false and baseless case against him and SHO Ghanaur has arrested him,” claimed Anil Sareen. Showing a video of Gautam being arrested from his house in the wee hours as evidence, Sareen said that when asked, the SHO could not show the name or mobile number of the complainant. Similarly, when BJP candidate from Dharamkot ward no. 8 Vipin Pabby went to file his nomination, a man not only snatched his file but also snatched the authority letters of all BJP candidates for Nagar Panchayat Dharamkot elections in the presence of Punjab Police, claimed Sareen.
Sarin said senior officials were apprised of the situation but no action was taken. Despite repeated attempts, SSP Patiala Nanak Singh and SHO Ghanaur SI Sahib Singh could not be contacted for comment. Union Minister of State for Railways Ravneet Singh Bittu, who was visiting the city, raised the issue that the ruling AAP was exerting pressure to win the elections and government officials were not issuing NOCs despite December 12 being the last date for filing nomination papers. There was a huge drama at the Deputy Commissioner’s office this evening when former Union Minister Preneet Kaur, accompanied by her daughter Jai Inder Kaur, Punjab BJP Mahila Morcha Pramukh and former BJP State President Ashwani Kumar reached the DC office and accused the officials of being involved in tearing the nomination papers of newly appointed Pramukh of Patiala BJP Urban Vijay Kumar Kooka, who is contesting from Ward No. 50. Kooka said that today when he was going towards the Returning Officer’s office to file his nomination papers, some people came and snatched the nomination papers from him. Pradeep Bajwa of Police Station Tripuri said that they have received the complaint and the matter is being investigated.
