Ludhiana, October 20, 2019: A day ahead of by-elections in the Dakha constituency, things got heated when reports emerged that Congress MLA Kulbir Zira and his supporters were intimidating voters and asking them to vote against Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) candidate Manpreet Singh Ayali.
On hearing this, Ayali along with his supporters immediately reached Sarabha and some reports say that workers from both parties clashed with each other.
To prevent things getting out of control, a heavy police force led by SP Rajveer Singh Boparai reached the village but when asked by mediapersons about the presence of Zira in the village, Boparai denied it.
However, contradicting the police version, some villagers said that the Congress MLA and his supporters have been camping in the village since yesterday and they were threatening them to not vote for the SAD candidate.
In a video, which was put up on Twitter by SAD Spokesperson Dr Daljit Singh Cheema, Ludhiana Congress MP Ravneet Bittu can be heard calling on the Akalis to stop indulging in ‘goondaism’ and saying that Congress workers are not wearing bangles and they will retaliate and reply in kind.
Bittu said he was in Boparai Kalan village where Akali workers smashed windscreens of parked vehicles and blamed it on Zira and Kamaljit Brar.
He cautioned Ayali that Congress workers will blockade his house and not let him come out to vote if he doesn’t stop bullying voters.
Cheema said, “Zira MLA Kulbir Singh has illegally entered Sarabha village of Dakha assembly constituency and is threatening voters. This is brazen violation of model code of conduct. He should be arrested immediately and strict action as per law be taken to ensure free and fair election”.
“The open threats by Ludhiana MP Ravneet Bitu on fb live challenging Manpreet Ayali that he along with MLA Jeera and Kanwaljit Brar will be there out side Ayali’s residence speaks volumes about the lawlessness in Ludhiana district. Will concerned authorities act?” added Cheema.