The Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) today asked the Election Commission of India (ECI) to investigate the rampant violation of electoral laws by the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) following startling revelations that the party was amassing crores of rupees to distribute its party tickets for the 2017 assembly elections in Punjab.In a statement here, all SAD MPs of Punjab including Sukhdev Singh Dhindsa, Balwinder Singh Bhundur, Harsimrat Kaur Badal, Prem Singh Chandumajra , Naresh Gujral, Ranjit Singh Brahmpura, Sher Singh Ghubaiya urged the Election Commission to verify the disclosures made by former AAP Convenor Suchha Singh Chhottepur against his own party and initiate proceedings to disqualify AAP from national politics."The alleged party of change has turned out to be a money collection machine which is milking gullible Punjabis by promising tickets to them", the MPs said adding "this has vitiated electoral politics in Punjab".
The mps said Mr Chhottepur, who was till yesterday the State Convenor of AAP in Punjab, had disclosed yesterday that each and every party ticket was being sold by AAP. They said Chhottepur had stated that tickets were being sold for money ranging between Rs one to Rs two crore per seat. "It is in fact when Chhottepur raised his voice against auctioning off party tickets to corrupt officials, criminals and moneybags that the Delhi based high command of AAP started plotting his ouster from the party", they added.The SAD MPs also announced that they would file a formal complaint against AAP with the Election Commission to ensure firm action is taken against AAP. "We want the ECI to take immediate action against AAP so that a message is sent across to all political parties that criminalisation of politics by such underhand means will not be tolerated at any cost".
The MPs said the ECI should call for and record the statement of Mr Chhottepur and also that former official Hardeep Kingra, singerJassi Jasraj and NRI Pavittar Singh who had made disclosures of money being collected by the Delhi team of AAP in lieu of allotting tickets.Mrs Harsimrat Badal also asked the ECI to summon AAP Convenor and Delhi chief minister Arvind Kejriwal to explain why he was trying to spread dissensions and hatred in the Sikh community by encouraging Sikh leaders to disrespect their own religion. She said had Mr Chhottepur not rejected Kejriwal's statement to take the Akal Takth head on, the supreme religious head of Sikhs, the peaceful atmosphere of the State would have been severely disturbed.Mrs Badal said this was not all. AAP was not only fomenting divisions in the Sikh community but was also hatred among different communities in Punjab. She said recent developments, including the involvement of a Delhi AAP Mla in a sacrilege incident at Malerkotla, was indicative of this trend. Asking the ECI to take steps to stop such anti-social and anti-national activities immediately, she said peace had come about in Punjab after a long struggle. "We should not let this peace be disturbed at any cost", she added.