City Congress defends Bansal,slams BJP

A day after Opposition united to demand a probe into the mayoral elections and resignation of Union Minister of Parliamentary Affairs and Water Resources Pawan Kumar Bansal,the city unit of Congress defended its leader.

A day after Opposition united to demand a probe into the mayoral elections and resignation of Union Minister of Parliamentary Affairs and Water Resources Pawan Kumar Bansal,the city unit of Congress defended its leader. The party alleged that the Opposition,particularly the BJP,was trying to rake up the issue because it could not find any other issue against the Congress.

In the elections held on January 1,Independent candidate J S Kang lost by one vote to Ravinder Pal Singh of Congress.

Senior leader Subhash Chawla said: If the BJP feels the election was not fair,it should have objected in the House. The party has demanded a CBI probe into the elections when they are condemning the role of the investigating agency in Parliament. These show the double standards of the party.

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The Opposition had raised objections to Bansal opposing the directions of presiding officer Brig K S Chandpuri (Retd) about not carrying mobile phone to the House while voting.

Congress leader H S Lucky said mobile phones were not used for clicking pictures as was being alleged. There is no rule that says mobile phones cannot be carried while casting vote. Even BJP councillors carried cellphones, he said.

The leaders stressed that there was a need for having anti-defection law in the MC. They also favoured voting through raising of hands.

Mayor Ravinder Pal Singh said the election process was fair and the BJP is trying to blot the image of MP Pawan Bansal.

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Chandigarh Congress chief B B Bahl said Bansals name was unnecessarily being dragged into the controversy.

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