Govt using police to help get votes — AISAD Chandumajra

PATIALA, July 13: The All-India Shiromani Akali Dal (AISAD) general secretary, Prem Singh Chandumajra, today alleged that the state government headed by Parkash Singh Badal was using the state police to terrorise the people to help get votes in the forthcoming parliamentary elections. Addressing a series of meetings at Hardaspur Lung, Bakshishiwala, Kheri Gaurorian, Lalochhi and other villages in connection with the Lok Sabha elections, he said that the state government was trying to get votes at any cost. And alleged that the police was implicating people in false cases and later withdrawing cases on the directions of the state government.Refuting the claims made by the Finance and Planning Minister Capt Kanwaljit Singh regarding the switchover of loyalities by the panchayats in this district, he said the Finance Minister was lying, and would be unable to name even 20 sarpanches from these panchayats.

Calling the state government anti-farmer, he said raising of the connection fee for tubewell connections from Rs 1,000 to Rs 25,000 per horse power has added to the farmers’ hardship. Chandumajra also refuted Kanwaljit’s claim regarding MCPI, BKU (Ekta) and Rajewal groups extending support to Shiromani Akali Dal headed by Parkash Singh Badal during the forthcoming Lok Sabha elections He said people would get a clear picture on July 17, when these leaders will address a joint conference to be organised by All-India Shiromani Akali Dal at Patiala.