Like Akalis, Congress also misusing government machinery to rig local bodies’ elections: Harpal Singh Cheema*
In what capacity is Jakhar acting as spokesperson of Election Commission*
says interference of Congress leaders in municipal elections, a damage to credibility of Election Commission; should take cognizance of it*
*Chandigarh, January 7, 2021( Wishavwarta )-The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) has accused Congress state president Sunil Jakhar for forcibly interfering in the next month’s municipal elections in Punjab. In a press statement issued from the party headquarters, senior party leader and Leader of Opposition (LoP) in Punjab Legislative Assembly Harpal Singh Cheema said that Jakhar was trying to forcefully interfere in next month’s municipal elections in Punjab. He said that Punjab Chief Minister Captain Amarinder Singh and Jakhar were planning to rig the elections and were not deterred by adopting any government manipulation to win the election.
Taking a dig at Sunil Jakhar, Cheema said that the former was neither an MLA, nor an MP or minister of any department, so in what capacity he attends the government meetings. “Why does he interfere in government schemes and policy making? Captain Amarinder should answer as to why the leaders rejected by the public are involved in government work,” he said. Cheema said that Jakhar and other Congress leaders interfering in government work was not a good sign for democracy. “By doing this, Captain government and Congress leaders are weakening democracy,” he added.
Cheema further said that interference by Punjab Congress leaders in election related matters was against the rules of free and fair election of the Election Commission. He said with the intervention of the Congress leaders in the election matter; the credibility of the commission was also being harmed. “The Election Commission should take cognizance of this matter and stop the interference being made by the Congress leaders in the matter,” he added. He also requested the Governor of Punjab to take cognizance of the matter, restraint the Congress leaders for their interference in the elections and seek an answer from the Captain government on the interference being done by non-governmental people in government work.
Accusing the Captain-led state government of misusing the government machinery, Cheema said that just as the Akali government used to abuse the government machinery for its political benefit, in the same way, the Captain government was also misusing power for its petty political interests. “Captain do not desist from adopting any government manipulation for political gains. Now the people of Punjab have understood his intention. The public will answer them in the coming elections,” he added. He said that as the people got fed up with the actions of the ‘Akalis’ and rejected them, similarly the people would also reject the Congress.
