Jammu, Oct. 16 : Congress today hits out at the local Administration of Nagrota Assembly for threatening Congress workers, disruptions at Block Congress of Bhalwal & Mathwar block at Ghaink, Amb Tehsil Gharota Yesterday late night, detaining the owner of the office building and harassing him by the Naib Tehsildar Kikar Singh and local police, besides interfering in the functioning of BCC of Nagrota.
Addressing a Press Conference here today PCC Working President Shri Raman Bhalla, Chief Spokesperson Mr. Ravinder Sharma, Ex-MLA Th. Balwan Singh Ex-Senior Vice President and Shri Ved Mahajan Ex-MLC I/C Party HQ, termed it as official Goondagardi at the behest of ruling party, which is blatant violations. Of election norms. Senior Congress leaders especially Chief Spokesperson Ravinder Sharma questioned the election authorities and the administration over the official goondagardi and under whose directions the local administration harassed the party workers at both Block Congress offices of the party at Nagrota and Ghaink, without any authority of law, for the last three days.
The local civil and police administration led by Tehsildar went to party office at Nagrota day before yesterday and directed the Block Office Bearers of the party to close down the party office. Similarly Naib Tehsilday alongwith local police first threatened the party office bearers at the Ghaink on 14th Oct and yesterday late evening trespassed into the office premises and detained the owner Anmol Singh and tore off the flax and posters of our national leaders and senior PCC leaders. He disclosed that party immediately wrote to the Chief Electoral Officer and DEO about the incident on 14th Oct evening despite this the Naib Tehsildar alongwith police committed the criminal trespassed and detained the owner at Police Station.
Seeking strict action against the erring officials including lodging of FIR, the party demanded answer from the election Authorities to explain to the public the illegal action of the part of erring officials and inaction on the part of top election machinery, said working president Raman Bhalla. He said entire machinery of 77-Nagrota is under Election Commission for the purpose of election.
Showing videos and photographs of late night incident, they questioned if some election is announced in Jammu East or Municipal Corporation, will the party HQ at Shaheedi Chowk Jammu will be closed, expressing surprise over such illegal action of administration . Th. Balwan Singh explained the series of acts of harassments to party workers at the behest of BJP and administration and said that party has not yet announced its candidates in the 77-Nagrta constituency, so how can party offices can be directed to be closed.
The party urged the ECI to take immediate notice of this illegal action and inaction of the top election machinery in UT, despite written information two days ago. They said party shall resist such biased actions of the administration through democratic and legal norms and asked the authorities to take action over the incidents without delay in the smooth and fair conduct of elections.
Congress demands action against erring officials for trespass and damage to party offices in Nagrota Assembly.
The party welcomed the decision of the coalition Govt. to restore darbar movement practice, which was joint promise and congress guarantee to our people in our manifesto. They said that Govt should move ahead to fulfill other important commitments on our common agenda during polls. However Mr. Ravinder Sharma blamed Centre Govt. and BJP for the inability of the elected Govt. to fulfill other important commitments, as they did not allow the Govt. to function statehood was not restored, the business rules not approved I one year, no funds including the relief and rehabilitation funds for flood affected not released, so how can you blame elected Govt, he added.