Chandigarh, December 27
Ms Rozy Bhattal, a niece of the Punjab Deputy Chief Minister, Ms Rajinder Kaur Bhattal, today alleged that she was facing threats to her life from her father’s younger brother, Mr Kuldeep Bhattal. The latter was acting at the behest of her aunt, Ms Bhattal, she alleged.
Ms Rozy Bhattal, while addressing mediapersons here, said, “I have been threatened that I will not be allowed to even file nomination papers from the Dhanuala Assembly seat in the forthcoming elections as my aunt wants Mr Kuldeep Bhattal to contest from there”. She claimed that she held sway over voters there and would contest as an independent against her own uncle.
Meanwhile,
the Deputy Chief Minister said the allegations levelled by her niece were “no more than an election stunt as she was keen on contesting from Dhanuala”. She added, “Why will I want to harm her? But I cannot promise her a party ticket as that decision is that of the party high command and will be based on the winability of a candidate. Rozy is an aspirant and the allegations are an outcome of her desire to contest from Dhanuala”.
At the press conference, Ms Rozy Bhattal claimed that if she was denied a ticket it could have an impact on all 10 Assembly seats in Sangrur and Barnala districts. She said Mr Kuldeep Bhattal had lived all his life in Patiala and his name was being propped up by Ms Rajinder Kaur Bhattal and the Congress would lose the seat. She went on to claim that the security cover given to her family was withdrawn a few days ago. Ms Rozy Bhattal, who was accompanied by her husband, said she had already met the PPCC chief, Mr Shamsher Singh Dullo, and soon she would be meeting the Chief Minister, Capt Amarinder Singh, and the Congress President, Ms Sonia Gandhi.
When asked about the issue, Mr Dullo said, “It is a family matter,” and refused to comment on the issue.
