Chandigarh, March 23
The Shiromani Akali Dal and Congress have claimed that a PCS officer faced mental harassment at the hands of the Moga deputy commissioner to elect AAP candidates as chairperson and vice chairperson of the Baghapurana Panchayat Samiti.
Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) leaders Sukhbir Singh Badal and Bikram Singh Majithia, and Congress leaders Partap Singh Bajwa and Pargat Singh on Sunday shared a purported letter of the PCS officer and Baghapurana Sub-Divisional Magistrate (SDM) Babandeep Singh Walia complaining against Moga DC and IAS officer Sagar Setia.
Setia, however, rejected the allegations and said that Walia was facing an inquiry over complaints received against him from panchayat samiti members.
This comes when the AAP government is in the opposition’s line of fire over allegations of abetment to suicide of a state warehousing corporation official, Gagandeep Singh Randhawa, by former minister Laljit Singh Bhullar. The opposition has been demanding Bhullar’s arrest.
According to the purported letter presented by SAD and Congress leaders, SDM Walia, in his complaint to the chief secretary on Sunday, accused Setia of causing extreme harassment, mental agony and torture in connection with the chairperson and vice chairperson elections of the Baghapurana Panchayat Samiti.
Walia claimed that the process of the elections, which were scheduled to be held on March 17, could not be completed due to a law and order situation at the venue and the same was duly brought to the notice of the Moga DC in a timely manner.
The SDM wrote in his complaint that such actions appear to be influenced by extraneous considerations, with an intent to compel declaration of election results in favour of particular candidate(s), which is contrary to the principles of free and fair elections and administrative propriety.
SAD president Badal alleged that Walia was being subjected to mental harassment to forcibly elect AAP candidates to the positions of chairperson and vice chairperson.
Despite writing to the chief secretary, the SDM was not getting justice, he charged.
SAD’s Majithia also claimed that pressure was built on the SDM to act against the rules.
The SDM wrote the letter at 3:13 am to the chief secretary seeking protection, a fair inquiry, and a transfer, he claimed.
“Like Gagandeep Randhawa, another officer pushed to the brink,” he alleged.
Leader of Opposition in the Punjab Assembly, Partap Singh Bajwa, slammed the AAP government.
“After Gagandeep Singh Randhawa’s tragic death, now disturbing reports suggest SDM Baghapurana, Babandeep Singh, is being pressured to favour AAP candidates,” he said.
“Are officers now being reduced to political agents? This is a direct attack on democracy and governance. Strong-arm tactics, coercion and mental harassment of officers must stop immediately,” the Congress leader said.
Setia dismissed the allegations against him.
He said an inquiry is already underway against the SDM based on complaints lodged by the panchayat samiti members.
