AAP TO HOLD AGITATION ON SEPT 24 AGAINST POLL VIOLENCE

CHANDIGARH: The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) on Thursday announced to hold a state-level protest against the Capt Amarinder Singh government in Sangrur on September 24 if it fails to take action against Congress’ Sangrur district chief Rajinder Raja for poll-related violence.

Addressing a joint press conference here, leader of opposition Harpal Singh Cheema and Sunam MLA Aman Arora, while demanding immediate arrest of Raja, alleged that AAP candidate for panchayat samiti from Jharon block was brutally attacked and beaten up by the Congress leader and his supporters. “The police were slack in taking action ever after the matter was brought to their notice,” they said.

The two AAP leaders blamed the Congress for “unprecedented hooliganism, booth capturing and sporadic skirmishes” on polling day across the state. “We have never seen such collusion of police and civil officials with the ruling party. Because Amarinder has failed to deliver on his promises, the Congress misused the official machinery and hijacked the elections. They turned Punjab into Bihar,” said Cheema, listing incidents of violence in different districts.

Cheema said the state election commission and poll officials were in awe of the ruling party, its ministers and MLAS and failed to perform their basic duty. This happened even though they had expressed their apprehensions to the poll panel, he said, calling it a “puppet” of the state government.

Arora said if it is so difficult for the government to ensure free and fair elections, it should nominate as sarpanches and panches and avoid the next round of rural polls.

“What is the need to waste public money on such a massive exercise and risk lives of people?” the AAP leader asked. The panchayat elections are likely next month.