Parties flouting code of conduct?

Parties flouting code of conduct?
Rajay Deep
Tribune News Service

Bathinda, April 17
In Bathinda, apparent violation of the model code of conduct is going on.
Under the guidelines of model code of conduct for the Lok Sabha polls, it is mentioned that only five people are allowed to appear at the time of nomination filing.
In violation to the said norm, today Raninder Singh, Congress candidate for Bathinda Lok Sabha seat, appeared before the Assistant Returning Officer (ARO), the ADC (General) Upjeet Singh Brar, with not less than 20 members of his party, including his family members.
When contacted, Assistant Commissioner (UT), Parveen Thind, who was also on the spot, said, "In this matter, the complaint can be lodged by the ARO only, so I do not want to give any comment on the issue."
When asked the returning officer, Deputy Commissioner, Bathinda, Rahul Tewari said, "I received a verbal complaint from SAD (B) leaders about the said violation. I asked the concerned ARO, who in his report said that the Congress party submitted two nomination forms in the names of Raninder Singh and his wife Rishma Kaur. Going by that, 10 people were allowed. No doubt, rest of the people thronged the venue but by that time, papers had been received."
"If some written complaint will come to me or it appears in any newspaper, then I will surely take action against the accused, irrespective of the party concerned."
It was not only the Congress leaders who flouted the rules. On the day of nomination filed by SAD (B) candidate, Harsimrat Kaur Badal, wife of deputy CM Sukhbir Singh Badal, violations were reported.
Though they maintained the decorum of the required number of people appearing before the ARO, but in gross violation of the model code, they held a press conference in the Deputy Commissioner's meeting hall, where they levelled allegations against the Congress.
Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal, deputy chief minister, Sukhbir Singh Badal and the SAD candidate for Bathinda seat Harsimrat Kaur Badal interacted with the media in the meeting room where a number of SAD leaders and kin of the Badal family were present.
According to the information received, no action has been taken on any of the mentioned issue till fling the report.

Amarinder meets protesters

Bathinda: Former CM Captain Amarinder Singh met the activists of protesting unions camping outside the mini-secretariat, here on Friday. At the brief meeting, the agitating activists gave him a copy of their memorandum, mentioning that the state government was not paying heed to their demands and with the request to take up the issue with the Centre.
Amarinder assured them of taking up their matter after the formation of new government at the Centre. Amarinder said, “You all are like my sons and daughters, so I will stand by you.” — TNS