CHANDIGARH: Punjab Congress on Friday demanded to impose president's rule in Punjab due to 'murder of democracy' by ruling alliance of SAD-BJP during recently held Zila Parishad and Blo ck Samiti elections and previously held Municipal Corporation elections.

"The democracy is in peril", Congress informed the President of India Pratibha Patil in a memorandum submitted to her by PPCC president Rajinder Kaur Bhattal at Delhi. "It is with a deep sense of anguish tat we would like to draw your kind attention towards the total subversion of Democracy and Law and Order in the State of Punab", memorandum read.

It further stated that the Shiromani Akali Dal – BJP Government assumed office in March, 2007. From the very first day it unleashed a reign of terror and repression on Activists and Leaders of the Indian National Congress. False cases were registered against thousands of Congress Workers and Leaders. Many of them were illegally detained and brutally tortured by the Punjab Police at the instance of the Shiromani Akali Dal – BJP leaders. Infact some of these Congress Leaders even committed suicide to escape the unbearable harassment which they were being subjected to by the Shiromani Akali Dal –BJP Government.

PPCC accused the ruling alliance that in the elections to the Municipal Corporations of Ludhiana, Jallandhar, Amritsar & Patiala held on 8th of August, 2007,  combine indulged in rampant booth capturing and intimidation of voters. Constables and Officers of the Punjab Police were deployed in mufti to capture polling booths and indulge bogus in voting. All these facts were repeatedly brought to the notice of the State Election Commission which  unfortunately took no action to prevent the subversion of democracy. It remained a mute spectator to the trampling of democratic institutions by the Shiromani Akali Dal – BJP Government in Punjab.

This pattern was again repeated in the elections to the Block Smitis and Zilla Parishads held on the 12th May, 2008. Again the Punjab Government started subverting the electoral process right from the commencement of the nomination process. Congress Sarpanches, Block Samiti and Zilla Parishad Members desirous of conducting elections were not granted No Objection Certificates by the Block Development Officers on the instructions from the Chief Minister of Punjab. Other Congress Members who manage to file their nominations had to face arbitrary rejection of their nomination papers and yet others were simply coerced to withdraw from the contest.

Memorendum said that on 12th May, 2008 – the day of polling, the Punjab Government deployed constables and officers of the Punjab Police to unleash a reign of terror across the State. This time around even workers of their alliance partner the BJP were not spared. In every village of Punjab officers and constables of the Punjab Police in mufti and musclemen imported from Haryana captured polling booths and stuffed the ballot boxes. The returning officers were also pressurized to rig elections to the extent that one returning officers were also pressurized to rig elections to the extent that one returning officer in Tarn Taran committed suicide after the polling was over Eight Senior Superintendents of Police heading important districts were compelled to go on leave by the Chief Minister as they refused to and abet the process of murdering democracy in the State.

It alleged that the Congress workers across the State were not only brutally beaten up but 3 people were shot at and killed. More that 2000 workers had to be hospitalized across the State. Democracy was reduced to a complete farce with poll turning in to a one party – Shiromani Akali Dal affairs.

Congress said that the 73rd and 74the Constitutional Amendment Act were promulgated to strengthen Democracy at the grass root level and broad base democratic processes and institutions. The powers to conduct these elections were given to the State Election ommission
under Article 243 (k) of the Constitution of India. Unfortunately the State Election Commission in Punjab has behaved like a handmaiden of the Punjab Government and has colluded in subverting the electoral process.

The Punjab Pradesh Congress Committee also added that it is indeed surprised that the Governor of Punjab who is your direct representative has not apprised you with the ominous situation that is fast evolving in Punjab.

Memorandum said that a pattern is emerging whereby important Akali leaders like the Jathedar of the Akali Takhat Joginder Singh Vedanti has openly called for the establishment of Khalistan. The President of the Akali Dal Sukhbir Singh Badal has prepared a fascist organization called the Student Organization of India which is openly unleashing a reign of terror in Punjab with all kinds of anti national banners being put up in various cities of Punjab. The Akali-BJP government is fast taking Punjab back to the dark days when people of Punjab really suffered.

There is a complete break down of law and order and constitutional scheme of governance in Punjab.  The situation is such that democracy is in peril and except for pre-emptive imposition of President's rule there is no other way of returning the situation, Congress has stated.