Chandigarh, April 12
News channel reports showing Punjab Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal openly asking industrialists to contribute to SAD-BJP’s Jalandhar candidate Pawan Kumar Tinu’s poll fund has created a political storm. The Opposition has asked the Election Commission to bar him from campaigning for “blatant violation” of the model code of conduct.

"Parde naal davo, sahmane na davo (give quietly, don't give openly)," Badal is shown as saying in a video as he asks for "crores" during an election meeting on the premises of Unison Industries near Pathankot Chowk.

Although SAD made light of the reports, terming it a mere usage of symbols and Punjabi metaphors, Punjab Pradesh Congress Committee president Partap Singh Bajwa asked the Chief Election Commissioner to intervene and "immediately stop" Badal's participation in the poll process. He also slammed the "non-performing" Chief Electoral Officer.

Bajwa said, "The commission should categorically bar Badal from campaigning in the state. In fact, he should not be allowed to camp in the state till the elections are over."

The CM, while addressing the business fraternity, had said: "Tann, mann atte teeji ik gall hor vi hundi hai… oh tussi vi samjho, us vich vi maddad karo (besides physical and emotional support (for Tinu), there's a third thing too… please understand and help with it. Bada aukha kum hunda hai… karoran rupaiyya kharch hunda hai (electioneering is a tough job and needs crores). Parde naal davo, sammane na davo (give secretly, not in the open)." The recording also shows the CM admitting to fudging expenditure details. "Croran rupaiyya kharch hunda hai, bhaven hisab vich assi thoda vikhaunde haan (crores are spent on campaigning, though we show less in expenditure details)," he is shown as saying.

CEO VK Singh said he hadn't seen the video that went on air on Thursday. "I have not seen the transcript or the video yet," he said. Unison Industries director and host Amanbir Singh Marwaha said, "The CM had a casual interaction with 25-odd industrialists. There was no demand for money."