Residents hold protest, accuse administration of high-handedness in Khanna

A massive protest broke out in Khanna district on the last day of filing nominations for the panchayat elections. Residents accused the administration of bullying tactics and raised slogans against the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP).

Khanna is a constituency of Rural Development and Panchayat Minister Tarunpreet Singh Sondh.

The protesters, including leaders from the Shiromani Akali Dal and the Congress, staged a sit-in outside the Block Development and Panchayat Office (BDPO). DSP Amritpal Singh Bhati and police personnel were deployed to prevent any untoward incidents.

SAD leader Yadwinder Singh Yadu and former block samiti chairman Satnam Singh Soni alleged administrative high-handedness in the panchayat elections. The protesters accused officials of withholding no objection certificates (NOCs) and not issuing certificates for ‘chulah’ taxes, causing roadblocks.

Yadu and Soni claimed AAP was using strong-arm tactics, denying NOCs to opposition candidates and withholding chulha tax NOCs. They warned that if nominations were rejected due to these issues, candidates would seek legal recourse.

BDPO Pyara Singh clarified that 217 NOCs had been issued since September 27, with 28 issued on the last day. He denied administrative high-handedness, suggesting some individuals were protesting for political mileage. The work is being done with full transparency.