Using a child for his political campaign is low even for Sukhbir Badal, this incident is unfortunate, EC should take strict action to set an example: Harpal Singh Cheema

Chandigarh, April 9

The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) filed a complaint to the Election Commission against Shiromani Akali Dal president Sukhbir Singh Badal for violating the directions of ECI regarding the political campaign.

“On Tuesday, senior AAP leader and FM Punjab Harpal Singh Cheema filed the complaint.”. In a letter addressed to the Election Commission of India and Chief Electoral Officer Punjab, AAP leader said that Sukhbir Badal used a child for his campaign during his Punjab Bachao Yatra which is a political campaign.

In the leadership of Harpal Singh Cheema, along with Harchand Singh Barsat, Dr Sunny Ahluwalia, Malvinder Singh Kang and Tarunpreet Singh Sondh, AAP’s delegation reached the office of Punjab’s chief electoral officer in sector 17, Chandigarh to officially file this complaint.

Sukhbir  Badal,violated the directions of ECI

The letter states that on 06.04.2024 Sukhbir Singh Badal, President Shiromani Akali Dal (Badal) during his election campaign ‘Punjab Bachao Yatra’ at Raikot between 1:07:02 PM and 1:08:10 PM, has violated the directions/instructions issued by the Election Commission of India when he made a child raise Slogans of Shiromani Akali Dal Zindabad and Vote for Akali Dal. The party also submitted the videographed proof of the incident.

It further asserted that Akali Dal and Sukhbir Singh Badal’s actions constitute a violation of the mandate of the Hon’ble Bombay High Court, as outlined in its Order dated 4th August, 2014, in PIL No. 127 of 2012 (Chetan Ramlal Bhutada Vs. State of Maharashtra and others). The court stressed the necessity of ensuring that political parties refrain from involving minor children in any election-related activities. All political parties and candidates must ensure strict compliance with the Child Labour (Prohibition and Regulation) Act, 1986, as amended by the Child Labour (Prohibition and Regulation) Amendment Act, 2016. But Sukhbir Badal flouted not only the directions of the ECI but also the law that prohibits using children for political activities.

Sukhbir Badal made a Child raise Slogans

Briefing the press, Harpal Singh Cheema said that Sukhbir Badal made a Child raise Slogans of Shiromani Akali Dal Zindabad and vote for Akali Dal. He passed the mic to the child and asked him to address the gathering. Cheema said that it is low even for Sukhbir Badal. This is a very unfortunate incident and the Election Commission should take the strictest possible action against the SAD president to set an example. He said that these traditional political parties and dynast politicians of Punjab are habitual rule breakers. He said that during the SAD-BJP government they flouted every rule and law and established mafia rule in Punjab. Now once again, in his ‘Pariwar Bachao Yatra’ by using a child for his election campaign Sukhbir Badal proved that he has no regard for election commission guidelines or our laws.

“On March 16, 2024, the Election Commission imposed the Code of Conduct in the country, issuing guidelines regarding how all political parties and government work would be conducted.”

Badal made the children chant the slogan Akali Dal Zindaba

During his ‘Pariwar Bachao Yatra’, Shiromani Akali Dal chief Sukhbir Singh Badal made the children chant the slogan Akali Dal Zindabad and asked them to appeal for votes for the Shiromani Akali Dal. Sukhbir Singh Badal’s use of a child for his election campaigning constitutes a clear violation of the directions issued by the ECI in their letter No. ECI/PN/11/2024 dated: Feb 5, 2024, wherein the ECI refrained political parties from using children in election campaigns. The law of the country also prohibits the involvement of any child below 18 years of age in election campaigning.”SAD and Badal flouted the guidelines and the law because they don’t believe in the law. The strictest possible action should be taken against the Shiromani Akali Dal and Sukhbir Singh Badal. Legal authorities should also pursue legal action against them for violating the law.”

Cheema further said that they are not taking out any ‘Punjab Bachao Yatra’, it is a ‘Pariwar Bachao Yatra’ because for ten years they looted Punjab, established sand mafia, transport mafia and promoted drug mafia. Now when people see them for who they are, they have rejected them. To save their family’s political career Sukhbir Badal is doing this ‘yatra’ where he does not even follow proper guidelines or laws.