Amritsar, May 14
Senior Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) leader Bikram Singh Majithia today said the Majitha council Executive Officer was not issuing No Objection Certificates (NOCs) to SAD candidates for the forthcoming municipal elections. Asserting that this was the situation across Amritsar and neighbouring districts as well as the State, Mr Bikram Majithja said “officers are disclosing that chief minister Bhagwant Mann has issued directions to the bureaucracy not to issue NOCs to opposition candidates”.
Holding a press conference here along with the party leadership of Majitha, the SAD leader said, “Party leaders including Dilbagh Singh and Salwant Seth visited the office of the Executive Officer to seek NOC for party candidates. The leaders also submitted in writing that in case there were any discrepancies in house tax or any other certification they should be given an opportunity to correct the same”. He said instead of entertaining the party leaders the EO ran away from his office even though he was supposed to remain in office till 5 pm during this crucial period”.
Majithia also highlighted how AAP Halka incharge for Majitha – Talbir Gill was doing a drama of ringing the Executive Officer and ordering that NOCs should be given to everyone. “Even though this drama was exposed when the EO asked indirectly whether NOCs should also be given to SAD candidates, the mask was completely lifted when the EO denied NOCs to SAD candidates today. I challenge the AAP leadership to conduct free and fair elections if it has the courage to do so”, he added.
Asserting that the fundamental right of voters was being taken away by the AAP government, Majithia said, “The government should nominate its own candidates in all seats instead of wasting public money in holding the municipal elections”. He also expressed shock that the State Election Commission was acting like a mute spectator to the entire exercise. “Earlier also the SEC did not act when police officers like SSP Patiala Varun Sharma stopped SAD candidates from filing their nominations. We hope it acts in an impartial manner this time”, he added.
