Sukhbir let loose reign of terror, claims Jakhar

Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, September 20

Punjab Congress chief Sunil Jakhar today accused SAD chief Sukhbir Singh Badal of letting loose a reign of terror at Muktsar’s Killianwali village during polling yesterday. Releasing CCTV footage of Sukhbir’s cavalcade descending on the village and his supporters beating up an Independent candidate, Jakhar said Sukhbir, being a former Home Minister, should know that unlawful assembly of persons was prohibited under Section 144 of the CrPC (which was enforced there).

Countering Sukhbir’s allegation of the Congress resorting to booth-capturing, Jakhar said repoll had been ordered at maximum booths in Muktsar, the home turf of the Badals. He said Sukhbir was leading the “New Akali Dal”, which did not represent the traditional Akali Dal.

Traditional Akali leaders were not sharing the dais with Sukhbir during their protests across the state, he added. The PPCC chief said it was during Capt Amarinder Singh’s rule that free and fair elections had been held.

Ministers trash allegations

Power Minister Gurpreet Kangar, who is accused of leading a cavalcade of 30-odd vehicles to polling booths, dismissed the allegations as baseless. Kangar told The Tribune, “Why would I indulge in such things when I get a lead of over 700 votes in most villages in my constituency? This is false propaganda by Akali Dal leaders, who were not allowed to enter villages and seek votes.”

The Akali Dal also alleged that no action had been initiated against Health Minister Brahm Mohindra’s personal assistant (PA), who were caught on camera stamping votes on his own. Mohindra told The Tribune that he had himself asked for repoll in the said polling booth. He said the video looked morphed. “The man in the video is not my PA, he is just a Congress worker and it’s unfair to drag my name into the whole nasty affair,” he said.

An SEC official said they were yet to verify the authenticity of the videos being circulated on social media. “These could be morphed or old. It is only after we verify the video clips that we can act, if anyone is found guilty,” he added.