BJP leader campaigns for wife after allotted time, case registered

Campaigning for his wife after the allotted time cost dear to Gurdip Singh Neetu, former councillor, whose wife Gurmit Kaur is contesting the MC elections on the BJP ticket from Ward 75.

An FIR has been lodged against Neetu and a few of his supporters on the basis of a complaint filed by SI Sukhdev Singh in Division Number 2.

According to information, SI Sukhdev Singh was present during patrolling near the Issa Nagri puli on December 19. The police got information that after the time given for campaigning by the Election Commission came to an to end, Neetu, along with his supporters, was campaigning in Ward 75 for his wife. The police claimed that the BJP leader was also distributing liquor to voters in the area to lure voters in his wife’s support. Following this, the Police Division Number 2 got an FIR registered against Neetu and his supporters. No arrest has been made in the case so far.

Tension prevailed in the area on Thursday night when BJP workers and leaders, including Ravneet Singh Bittu, and AAP MLA Ashok Pappi Parashar came openly in support of their party workers. Commissioner of Police Kuldeep Singh Chahal had to personally visit the site to ease out the situation. The leaders were seen openly levelling allegations against each other.

“This is not democracy. When we asked the police to register an FIR against those who had attacked a BJP candidate and his brother, the police refused to listen. On the contrary, the police got an FIR lodged against BJP leader Neetu, who was not even at fault. Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann during his visit to Ludhiana on Thursday told the police to do whatever they want as the party needs to win the elections by hook or by crook. Hence, such a situation for the BJP was expected,” he alleged.

District president of the BJP Rajnish Dhiman said the FIR against the BJP leader was sheer high-handedness of the ruling party and the police. “They were having food at a dhaba. The dhaba does not even serve non-vegetarian food. How can a candidate serve liquor there? Secondly, in the case where the BJP candidate and his brother were brutally thrashed, the police failed to lodge a complaint, despite our requests,” Dhiman said.

BJP leaders offer arrest

The BJP leaders along with Ravneet Singh Bittu went to the office of the CP to offer their arrest on Friday. They offered arrest over the alleged high-handedness of the police against BJP candidates. The party leaders said: “Why were party workers are being harassed. We all are ready to offer arrest if the ruling party is happy to contest the elections in such a manner.”