Chandigarh– The Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) today appealed to the State Election Commission (SEC) to extend dates for filing of nominations besides announcing fresh dates for nominations of Sarpanches and Panches in fifteen villages in Dharamkot assembly constituency of Moga district where candidates from opposition parties were not allowed to file their nomination papers yesterday.
In a statement here, senior SAD leader and former minister Dr Daljit Singh Cheema also brought to the notice of the SEC that in three villages in Dharamkot, candidates filled their nomination papers but were not given receipts. He said besides this the party had also highlighted how Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) goons had attacked opposition candidates and prevented them from filing their nominations. “The nomination date should be extended at all places which were hit by violence”.
Dr Cheema said in the case of fifteen villages of Dharamkot, opposition candidates had stood in line before the offices of the Returning Officers for the entire day but their nomination papers were not received. He said the candidates belonged to Gagra, Augun, Khosha Randhir, Umrinana, Datawala, Chundha Kalaan, Chunda Kharod, Moose Wala, Malek Kanga, Manawa, Dolewala, Mundi Jamaal, Fateh Ole Shah, Kaaryaha Wala and Varavan.
The SAD leader said senior party leader Bikram Singh Majithia had also highlighted that opposition candidates were received calls from gangsters from jail threatening them with dire consequences if they stood for election. He said the Commission should order a probe into how gangsters were issuing threats from jail. He also demanded action against erring officials and against all the culprits who attacked opposition candidates and snatched their files.