JALANDHAR: Simranjit Singh Mann, president Akali Dal (Mann), has challenged Beant Singh, Chief Minister, Punjab, for an open debate” to establish as to who had violated the country’s Constitution more the Congress(I) or Akalis.
Mann was referring to the reported statement of Beant Singh that he (Mann) had no regard for the country’s Constitution and always talks of UNO in a chat with some newsmen, here on May 14.
Charging the Congress rulers of raping the Constitution, Mann said that he would welcome an immediate “open debate’ on the question before the press and Jalandhar bar association to establish the facts.
Mann lashed out at the Congress(I) for flouting the election norms in the by-election to Jalandhar parliamentary election and said that the convoy of police accompanying Beant Singh removed wall posters and banners Of Opposition parties, specially of Akal Dal (Mann) at Kale Sing he village on ‘Thursday. Is it a free and fair election, he asked?
Mann also alleged that crane of Jalandhar Municipal Corporation was busy hoisting the Congress(I) flags at the lamp posts while Opposition parties were not allowed to display their banners at a number of places.
Congress legislative Party general secretary, Santokh Singh, and PPCC general secretary, Gurmail Singh, on Friday, denied as “baseless” the allegations of electoral malpractices by Congress as reported in certain newspapers, on Friday.
Harpal Singh Bhullar and Surjit Singh Grewal, president and general secretary, respectively, of the state human rights society, Ferozepore, in a statement here, on Thursday, appealed to Akali leader Parkash Singh Badal toadopt justice Ajit Singh Bains as common panthic candidate and ask Kuldip Singh Wadala, Akali Dal (Budal) candidate to withdraw.
Article extracted from this publication >> May 21, 1993
