Chandigarh: Congress Member of Parliament Gurjeet Singh Aujla has strongly condemned the alleged incidents of violence, intimidation, and misuse of power during the Municipal Council President election in Qadian, describing them as a serious attack on democratic principles and Punjab’s constitutional framework.
In a statement issued on social media, Aujla alleged that the election process was marred by incidents that undermined democratic values. Referring to the reported events that took place in the presence of Punjab Leader of Opposition Partap Singh Bajwa, the Amritsar MP said the developments raise serious concerns about the functioning of democratic institutions in the state.
Aujla expressed concern over reports that two Congress councillors were allegedly kept in custody despite securing bail, thereby preventing them from exercising their democratic right to vote in the Municipal Council President election. If true, he said, such actions would represent a serious violation of democratic norms and electoral fairness.
The Congress leader also referred to allegations of hooliganism, intimidation, and coercion during the election process. He said reports of such incidents occurring openly have raised important questions regarding the role of the civil administration and the Punjab Police in ensuring a free and impartial electoral process.
Criticizing the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP)-led Punjab government, Aujla alleged that the state was witnessing a growing trend where unelected individuals were being given greater influence than elected representatives. According to him, such practices weaken democratic institutions and diminish public confidence in governance.
“Punjab cannot be governed through fear, intimidation, and political vendetta,” Aujla said, urging authorities to uphold democratic values and ensure that elected representatives are able to perform their constitutional responsibilities without interference.
The MP called upon the Indian National Congress and its Punjab unit to raise the issue vigorously. He also appealed to the Election Commission of India, the Punjab Police, the Director General of Police, the Chief Secretary of Punjab, and other constitutional and democratic institutions to conduct a fair inquiry into the allegations and ensure accountability for anyone found responsible.
Aujla further urged all concerned authorities to ensure that the truth regarding the Qadian election is brought before the public and that confidence in the democratic process is restored.
He concluded by stating that Punjab deserves a political environment based on free, fair, and fearless democratic practices rather than one influenced by violence, intimidation, or coercion.
At the time of publication, the Punjab government and the authorities concerned had not publicly responded to the allegations made by MP Gurjeet Singh Aujla. The claims in this report are based on Aujla’s public statement and have not been independently verified.