In a press briefing convened at the Punjab Congress Bhawan, Advocate Arshpreet Singh Khadial, Chief Spokesperson of the Punjab Congress, addressed the media concerning the recent tampering of ballots during the Chandigarh Mayoral election.
Addressing the press, the Chief Spokesperson of Punjab Congress underscored, “The recent mayoral election debacle in Chandigarh has not escaped the scrutiny of the highest judicial authority, the Supreme Court, which has unequivocally observed that the sanctity of democracy was compromised.”
Expounding upon the observations of the Supreme Court, Advocate Arshpreet Khadial further elaaborated, “The court has expressly condemned the presiding officer for openly defacing ballots, leading to the invalidation of votes. In light of this verdict, stringent action must be taken against the presiding officer for his disgraceful disruption of the electoral process.”
Interrogating the integrity of the electoral system, the Chief Spokesperson of Punjab Congress queried, “Elections form the bedrock of our democracy, shaping the destiny of our nation. If such malpractices persist unchecked, what future do we see of our democracy?”
He went on to assert, “Neither the BJP nor any of its representatives have expressed remorse for the shocking lapse that marred the proceedings on January 30th. The BJP’s concerted efforts to subvert democratic norms are unmistakable. It is evident that the presiding officer was not acting autonomously but rather under the influence of higher authorities. While accountability is paramount for the presiding officer, it is imperative that the BJP be held accountable as well for their role in undermining the democratic process.”
Commenting on the abuse of power by the BJP, he remarked, “The BJP has effectively transformed the Enforcement Directorate into a tool for enforcing dictatorship. Virtually every opposition party leader has faced unwarranted scrutiny from the ED. How can power be wielded so brazenly? While eight votes from the I.N.D.I.A. bloc were invalidated, none from the BJP faced similar repercussions.”
Concluding his statement, Advocate Khadial emphasized, “The BJP must be called upon to answer and extend apologies, to the citizens of our nation. If the principal opposition can be targeted in this manner, one can only fathom the plight of ordinary citizens. The neutrality and impartiality of the presiding officer are non-negotiable; yet, the appointment of a former BJP office bearer raises serious concerns. This unfortunate episode has propelled a mayoral election to the forefront of national discourse, solely due to the BJP’s abuse of power.”