Capt asks EC to ban PTC,more paramilitary forces to check ‘Majithia brigade’

“The programmes aired on PTC Channel manipulate the news in such a manner that they serve the partisan interest of ruling Akali-BJP combine. Immediate ban is required to be imposed on PTC TV Channel for preventing them from bombarding the voters with biased,tainted,incorrect and politically loaded information in favour of the ruling alliance and thereby interfering into the free and fair electoral process,” the Congress said in its written presentation to the EC.

Also apprehending violence during polls by Sukhbir’s brother-in-law MLA Bikram Singh Majithia’s brigade,Amarinder demanded deployment of adequate paramilitary forces at all booths. “Only 200 companies of paramilitary forces are not adequate for Punjab and the forces should not be deployed only in the outer security ring. They have distributed a large number of illegal arms to their supporters and also hired anti-social elements,proclaimed offenders and mafia to cause largescale violence and intimidation of voters,” he added.

The party also demanded the disqualification of former officers in poll fray — D S Guru and P S Gill. “Gill,who has recently retired as the state DGP,was reappointed as adviser (Home) and held the said post till the official announcement of his candidature from Moga constituency on SAD-BJP ticket. An employee who held the highest official rank in government and office of profit till yesterday,cannot be allowed to contest the Assembly elections without any cooling of period between his retirement/resignation and the elections. Similarly,Guru held the key post of principal secretary to the chief minister. He took important decisions and distributed crores of rupees from the state exchequer in his Bhaduar constituency,” the letter added.

Amarinder also alleged a large quantity of arms are yet to be deposited. The weapons are mostly in the hands of Majithia’s brigade,who are a serious danger to the holding of peaceful,free and fair elections. “Largescale violence is apprehended at their hands,” he said.

The Congress also demanded the immediate transfer of 13 officers — who it said are acting in a biased and partisan manner in favour of the ruling alliance — crackdown on paid news and banning of political meetings at religious functions.