The Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) today urged the Election Commission to restrain the movement of PPP- Congress candidate Manpreet Singh Badal in Bathinda parliamentary constituency as he was spewing hate against the SAD-BJP combine in an effort to incite violence amongst the electorate.In a complaint filed before the Election Commission, SAD spokesperson Dr Daljit Singh Cheema brought to the notice of the EC a hate speech delivered by Manpreet Badal during a public rally held at Bathinda yesterday. He said the PPP - Congress candidate likened the ruling SAD party in Punjab to a snake which could not be killed by striking at the tail. Dr Cheema said Manpreet instigated the people by saying "if you have ever hit out at a snake you will realise it cannot be killed by striking at the tail. You have to strike it on the head to kill it", he said adding "Manpreet even proclaimed before the people that he would do just that".
The SAD spokesperson said Manpreet Badal had become frustrated because his campaign had failed to take off in Bathinda as the people did not appreciate his blatant political opportunism and negative propaganda. "Now it seems he wants to engineer violence amongst the people and has virtually given a call for the same". Urging the Election Commission to restrain Manpreet Badal to his polling station only, Dr Cheema said "this is necessary to thwart the PPP- Congress candidate's game plan to engineer violence in the constituency and blame the SAD-BJP combine for the same".Dr Cheema urged the EC to act immediately on the complaint of the SAD in the interest of a free and fair election. "Only an injunction on the movement of Mr Manpreet Badal can prevent him from spreading his hate speeches which could lead to violence in the constituency", the spokesperson added.