Photo Source: Babushahi Network
Attack on Azaad group office in Mohali: Ex-Mayor blames Babir Sidhu, Chandumajra & Charanjit Brar for attack
Leaders denied the allegations
Harshabab Sidhu
Mohali, Janaury 24, 2021: The elections of Mohali Municipal Corporation are approaching and the political atmosphere in the city started getting intense.
A major incident was reported today from Sector 79, when some unidentified persons today allegedly attacked at the office of newly formed 'Azaad Group' of Mohali led by ex mayor Kulwant Singh.
Kulwant Singh, Parminder Singh Sohana and Sukhdev Patwari informed during a press conference today that the incident took place around 1.30 pm in front of their office in Sector 79 here.
"Around 35-40 persons, having swords, sticks, flags of farmers and arms in their hands, attacked at our office with the intention to kill us. But when we intervened, the miscreants fled from the spot and only few of our workers sustained minor injuries in the attack, " said Parminder Singh Sohana.
Azaad group alleged that the attack was pre-planned and the whole conspiracy was hatched by Balbir Singh Sidhu, Charanjit Singh Brar and Prem Singh Chandumajra.
Kulwant Singh said the police rushed to the spot on getting the information. He demanded strict action from the police. A complaint regarding this has also been made to the Mohali SSP and the Election Commission. Various pictures clicked by the office workers during the attack, were also been shown by Parminder Singh Sohana, where many persons can be seen with sticks in their hands.
Parminder Singh Sohana said, "We have identified few of the miscreants. Some of them were residents of Morinda and Kharar, and are the workers of Shiromani Akali Dal. The attack happened due to the collusion of Congress and Akali Dal." He also alleged that the Congress as well as SAD are united and are trying to damage the image of our group by inserting bad elements. They also trying to divert the people from development issues by hatching the conspiracies."
On the other side, the sources said that Azaad group had put two flags of farmers, on which 'Jai Jawan Jai Kisan' was written following which few members of farmers union today came at their office and objected on the same. During the heated arguments, a scuffle broke out between both the groups.
Inspector Bhagwant Singh, SHO (Station House Officer) of Sohana police station said, "We are investigating the matter with the help of various police teams. The scuffle broke out after few farmers union members raised objections on the flags of farmers, which were being fixed at the office of Azaad group. We are verifying all the facts and identifying the names of miscreants. Soon legal action will be taken against the suspects. No major injury was reported in the attack."
The political leaders, who are being targetted by the Azaad group, denied the allegations levelled by Azaad group. Cabinet minister and Mohali MLA Balbir Singh Sidhu said, "The allegations are totally baseless. How can they say that Congress and Akali Dal are united in MC elections? Akali Dal is our real opponent and we have been beating them for the last couple of times. We have no link with the attack on Azaad group's office."
Charanjit Singh Brar of SAD said through a video that the press conference conducted by the Azaad group is the result of their fear only. The farmers staged a 'dharna' today in front of their office and asked them not to play politics on the names of farmers. On this move, Parminder Singh Sohana and his workers abused the farmers following which a scuffle broke out, he said. He added that the objections were made by farmers but it is shocking that they are levelling allegations on us.
Prem Singh Chandumajra of SAD also declared the allegations made by Azaad group as 'false and baseless'. He said the press conference made by Azaad group was nothing less than a drama. He also said the reason behind this incident was the politics, which was being played by Azaad group on the name of farmers. The farmers can raise objections on this as they have already made it clear that they will not tolerate the politics in their agitation, he added.