FATEHGARH SAHIB: The Punjab Pardesh Congress Committee(PPCC) president Rajinder Kaur Bhattal opened the locks of houses of Dalits families in ward no 14 of Sirhind town of district Fatehgarh Sahib, which  had fled from their homes due to alleged atrocities committed by Sirhind MLA Didar Singh Bhatti , his supporters and police being committed after the Municipal Elections. These families were missing after  putting up posters, alleging harassment by the MLA, outside their houses before leaving.

Bhattal was accompanied by former Deputy Speaker Bir Devinder Singh, former ministers Dr Harbans Lal, Sadhu Singh Dharamsot , Punjab Kisan and Khet Mazdoor Congress chairman Kuljit Singh Nagra.

Before entering the house, the Bhattal assured the Dalit families that they had no need of worry now as entire Congress leadership is on their back.

 Talking  to media persons, Bhattal said that the PPCC had already submitted memorandum to the Punjab Governor  seeking his intervention to save the lives and property of these  dalit families.

She said that the  Congress had  registered strong protest against the highhandedness of the  administration especially the law enforcing agencies who are denying the right to life and property of these families. She said security should be provided to these families and  false cases against innocent people should be withdrawn , which was registered against them at the behest of Sirhind SAD MLA  Didar Singh Bhatti. She said that suitable departmental action be taken against those officials who have played partisan role during the election and victimized these poor Dalit families.

She said that when Congress will come into power it will strictly deal with the officers who had committed atrocities on Dalits at the behest of SAD.

Bhattal said that though Fatehgarh Sahib is a religious place but Akalis committed atrocities on poor dalits only to defeat Congress candidate Harjit Kaur from ward no 14 of Sirhind.  She said on  June 30  when Municipal elections were in progress in Ward No.14 of Sirhind  The musclemen of Akali Dal numbering around 50 led by MLA S.  Didar Singh Bhatti and his son Gurwinder Singh Bhatti entered the Booth no.2 of the Ward No.14 at 10 a.m. and threatened the polling staff and the polling agent of Congress candidate  Pargat Singh  present there. When people gathered there they fled threatening to come back later on. At about 2.00 p.m. the Akali musclemen came to the same polling booth with Sirhind SHO and shoved Pargat Singh in a Police Gypsie and captured the booth. She alleged that the police at the behest of the MLA had registered false cases against Pargat Singh and  others and has forced these families to flee for safer place abandoning their homes.

 She said that the people who have committed the crime of supporting a political party which is their birth right have been compelled to live on road side by the Local administration.

She said that a formal complaint in this regard has already been lodged with the State Election Commission.
During the chat with media persons Bhattal refused to comment on any issue related with senior congress leader and former chief minister Capt Amarinder Singh. She stated that she had come here only to enter Dalit families in their houses, which was fearing from Akalis and will not discuss any other issue.