The Punjab Congress has expressed serious concern over Election Commissioner O.P Rawat’s warning that use of cash may be replaced with liquor, drugs, gold etc in the forthcoming Assembly elections following the demonetisation.Punjab Pradesh Congress Committee (PPCC) leaders Preneet Kaur, Brahm Mohindra and Nirmal Singh said the apprehensions expressed by the Election Commissioner that use of unfair means could not be ruled out, even if use of cash is minimal in the coming polls, had unfortunately vindicated the Congress stand on demonetisation.Referring to the Election Commissioner’s remarks, carried in a newspaper interview, the PPCC leaders said with barter deals likely to further vitiate the environment in the poll-bound states, including Punjab, the situation did not seem favourable for free and fair elections.Only the imposition of President’s Rule in the state, as demanded by PPCC president Captain Amarinder Singh, could ensure that the polls are conducted in a fair manner, they said, urging the Election Commission to immediately intervene and take the matter in its hands in order to ensure peaceful and just elections in the state.
In a statement issued here, the PPCC leaders said given the widespread drugs menace already prevailing in the state under the patronage of the Badal government, the EC’s remarks call for urgent follow-up action.They pointed out that the Election Commission had even earlier vindicated the Congress charges of large-scale vitiation of the political atmosphere in Punjab as a result of armed gangs as well as drugs and illicit liquor having a free run of the state. The latest statements from the EC endorse the Congress fears that the situation could get aggravated as a result of the ill-conceived demonetisation move of Prime Minister Narendra Modi.Unless immediate corrective action is taken, the elections could witness massive violence – an apprehension already conveyed to the EC by Captain Amarinder, they asserted.