Other States - Punjab   

Clashes mar Ajnala by-election

By Our Staff Correspondent

PTI

Party workers clash at a polling booth in Chakbala during the Ajnala Assembly by-election on Wednesday.

CHANDIGARH, FEB.23 .Polling for the by-election to the lone Assembly constituency of Ajnala was marked by numerous incidents in which workers and supporters of rival Congress and Akali Dal clashed with each other. According to initial reports about 70 per cent voters exercised their right, while elaborate security arrangements were in place. Meanwhile the Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) president, Parkash Singh Badal, has charged that the polling was marked by "unprecedented magnitude of rigging, fake voting and booth capturing indulged by Congress goons.''

Strongly contesting Mr. Badal's version, senior Congress leader, Harchand Singh Barsat, who is also the Political Secretary to the Chief Minister, said that the Akalis were acting out of frustration and desperation as a decisive defeat stared them in the face. He claimed that the Congress workers had exercised major restraint even when faced with grave provocation.

In a strongly worded letter to the Chief Election Commissioner, copies of which were released to media in Amritsar, Mr. Badal described the day's developments as "black day for democracy in India and the darkest hour for all those who wish to see civilized norms prevailing in public life.''

Deploring the inaction of the commission, Mr. Badal accused it of failing in its duty of ensuring a peaceful and free and fair poll. The Akali leader described the day's proceedings as Congress's "operation murder democracy'' and claimed that he had never seen such brazen conduct of the State agencies, carried out with massive planning and impunity from the Election Commission. In his letter, Mr. Badal referred the polling at number 97 in Avan Wasau village where the police, presiding officer and other members of the polling staff joined hands to deny Akali workers of their right to franchise.He also referred to the Tehra Rajput village incident where the senior Akali leader, Manjit Singh Barkandi, was attacked by Congress workers at the polling booth who had the support of the police officials. He received a fracture on his leg and other injuries.

Printer friendly page  
Send this article to Friends by E-Mail

Other States

News: Front Page | National | Tamil Nadu | Andhra Pradesh | Karnataka | Kerala | New Delhi | Other States | International | Opinion | Business | Sport | Miscellaneous | Engagements |
Advts: Classifieds | Employment | Updates: Breaking News |

Stories in this Section

Clashes mar Ajnala by-election

Copyright © 2005, The Hindu. Republication or redissemination of the contents of this screen are expressly prohibited without the written consent of The Hindu