KHARAR, June 18: Hundreds of villagers of Kharar block and the leaders of the Congress, BSP and CPI staged a massive protest dharna in front of the office of Kharar BDPO, here today.The villagers are protesting against the alleged irregularities committed by the BDPO during the panchayat poll process.Addressing the villagers, Mann Singh Manhera, north zone incharge of the BSP, demanded that the Punjab State Election Commission should initiate strict legal action against the BDPO for his alleged bunglings.He said by rejecting the nomination papers of prospective contestants the BDPO had denied them constitutional right on the behest of the ruling alliance's partners. The BSP leader said fresh nominations should be invited.They alleged that the nomination papers of several candidates belonging to opposition parties were rejected on flimsy grounds.More than 1,000 villagers took part in a protest march taken out after the dharna.Later, protesters presented a charter of demands to the SDM, Avtar Chand Sharma, demanding strict legal action against the BDPO.
