Chandigarh, May 24
Leader of Opposition in Punjab Assembly, Partap Singh Bajwa, today launched a scathing attack on the AAP government for what he termed as “systematic and shameless violations” of the Model Code of Conduct in Dhariwal ahead of the civic body elections.
Bajwa stated that despite his written complaint earlier in the day to the State Election Commission regarding the illegal distribution of ration kits after the campaign period ended, the Punjab government deliberately went ahead with the exercise during the silence period in a direct attempt to influence voters.
Bajwa further revealed that another serious violation has now surfaced in Ward No. 9 of Dhariwal, where government officers along with AAP volunteers have allegedly started registration camps for the proposed ₹1000 monthly scheme for women, even though the scheme has not been officially launched by the government till date.
“The AAP government has crossed every limit of the Model Code of Conduct. First, ration kits carrying picture of Bhagwant Mann were being distributed after campaigning ended, and now fake promises are being used to lure voters through registration camps for a scheme that does not even officially exist,” Bajwa said.
Bajwa added that the use of government machinery and officials for such political activities during the silence period amounts to a grave assault on free and fair elections. “Democracy cannot be reduced to electoral manipulation through misuse of taxpayer-funded machinery and deceptive promises,” he remarked.
Bajwa said that these actions expose the desperation of the ruling party and its complete disregard for constitutional institutions and electoral norms. He asserted that welfare measures cannot be converted into political propaganda tools during an active election process.
The senior Congress leader urged the State Election Commission to immediately take cognisance of the violations and initiate strict legal and disciplinary action against all those responsible. He specifically demanded that cases be registered against the erring officers who facilitated and participated in these activities despite the enforcement of the Model Code of Conduct.
“Officers who misuse their official position to help the ruling party influence voters must be held personally accountable. Selective silence by authorities will only weaken public faith in democratic institutions,” Bajwa added.
