Bathinda, May 11, 2019: Union food processing industries minister Harsimrat Kaur Badal today said there was total collapse of law and order in Bathinda and that her life was also endangered with the police administration playing into the hands of the Congress party and government by refusing to take action against miscreants who were adamant on disturbing her poll rallies.
Stating that the Congress government had completely vitiated the poll atmosphere, Mrs. Badal said today evening she was refused entry into Mandi Kalan village in Maur assembly segment. She said while she was refused entry her supporters in the village were also locked up. “In direct contrast the miscreants who were adamant on disturbing my poll meeting were given a free hand and no attempt was made to rein them in”.
Mrs. Badal said all this happened despite prior information given to the Bathinda SSP about the Congress conspiracy to disturb her poll meetings. “The Bathinda police failed to act on this information and did not take any preventive action. The police officers also reached the village only one hour after I sat down on dharna on the GT road near Mandi Kalan village. I have told them to arrest the miscreants so that I can address the thousand strong people who are waiting to hear me”.
Mrs. Badal said she had also complained to the Election Commission in this context. “I have told the EC that my democratic rights are being trampled upon by the Congress government which is desperate to ensure my loss and is using all foul means at its disposal to do this. I have urged the EC to immediately deploy para military forces in Bathinda parliamentary constituency to ensure free and fair elections as the Bathinda police is unable to perform its duty due to political pressure”.
Mrs. Badal also informed the EC that the Police administration in Bathinda was taking orders from Congress leaders as well as the State government. “The Congress party is hell bent on striking fear in the minds of Akali workers to force them to refrain from campaigning for the SAD. Similarly the general public is also being brow beaten and told to vote for the Congress candidate by the civil and police administration”, Mrs Badal added.