Chandigarh 11 May ( Harbans Singh)
Punjab BJP President Sunil Jakhar today said it has now become clear that the farmer agitation in Punjab has dangerous elements of the AAP and Congress within who are treacherously bidding to thwart BJP candidates from winning elections.
He said a series of incidents suffered by BJP candidates in poll fray over the past few weeks has exposed the ill-designs of the ruling AAP and Congress, underlining their frustration amid saffron party’s burgeoning footprints in Punjab.
Sunil Jakhar expressed apprehension that AAP and Congress workers, who seem to have infiltrated among protesting farmers, may orchestrate incidents of violence on genuine farmers in a dangerous attempt to put BJP candidates in bad light.
The State BJP chief urged the Chief Electoral Officer Punjab to ensure that the ruling AAP dispensation in Punjab, which is hand in glove with the Congress, does not succeed in executing an untoward incident.
Sunil Jakhar cited several incidents highlighting a well-calibrated conspiracy by the AAP and the Congress to stall the right of BJP candidates to campaign and connect with people. He said Friday’s incident where Ludhiana BJP nominee Ravneet Bittu was issued a payment due notice for NOC of a whopping Rs 1.82 lakhs at midnight on WhatsApp shows the frustration of Bhagwant Mann government to ensure that the candidature is rejected. He said the Mann government declined to give clearance for voluntary retirement to former IAS officer Parampal Kaur, a BJP nominee, despite Kaur fulfilling all requisite norms to contest polls. The planned protest during the campaign of Patiala nominee Parneet Kaur, where a farmer died on his own falling on the road due to exhaustion and heat, was a clear attempt to present the BJP and its candidates in bad light. Worst still, the police have booked a BJP worker for the death much against evidence, Jakhar condemned.
He also highlighted the ‘dirty-tricks’ of the AAP on the intervening night of Friday-Saturday when power supply was snapped on the directions of the AAP to the Office of Ravneet Bittu in Ludhiana. The power supply to the local BJP office was also snapped later when Bittu went there to sleep for the night.
The state BJP chief said the DGP and the Chief Secretary need to be held accountable for serious lapses since all these protests are taking place without permission and in spite of the clear directions of the CEO Punjab.
