Chandigarh, January 30: Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann on Tuesday said that January 30 will be remembered as the ‘darkest day’ in the annals of Indian polity as BJP led Union government has murdered democracy during the election for post of Mayor in Chandigarh.

SAYS HANDS OF BJP DRENCHED IN MURDER OF DEMOCRACY

Interacting with media persons at the local Punjab Bhawan, the Chief Minister stated that this moment would be etched as a black day in the annals of our democracy. He lamented that regrettably, it coincided with the month of the nation’s celebration of Republic Day, and BJP deliberately chose this time to undermine the country’s constitution. Bhagwant Singh Mann criticized BJP for its habitual practice of toppling democratically elected governments in Madhya Pradesh, Karnataka, Goa, Maharashtra, and other states.

The Chief Minister said that if the counting of 36 votes can’t be conducted in a free and fair manner then how the polls and counting of votes for the entire country will take place impartially. He said that these leaders will loot the ballot papers from the voters for their vested interests, adding that EVM machines have already been found in their homes. Bhagwant Singh Mann said that democracy is not going in the right direction adding that it is not in the interest of the common man and the country.

DEMANDS THAT PRESIDING OFFICER MUST BE BOOKED FOR SEDITION

The Chief Minister accused the BJP of deliberately appointing the head of its minority wing as the Presiding Officer in these polls. He criticized the Presiding Officer for acting to ensure the victory of the BJP nominee, thus jeopardizing the constitutional process envisioned by Dr. BR Ambedkar.

According to the Chief Minister, the Presiding Officer must be booked under sedition for deceiving the country’s constitution. He condemned the deliberate counting of votes in the absence of polling agents to ensure the BJP candidate’s win, stating that democracy has once again been muzzled for the sake of the saffron party.

The Chief Minister expressed concern that BJP’s manipulation in Chandigarh could extend to the upcoming Loknew Sabha polls, thus divesting people of their democratic rights. He vowed to challenge the election in court, asserting that democratic norms have been set aside.

He emphasized that there is no democracy in the country as the BJP-led government has hijacked the polls, raising doubts about the fairness of upcoming elections. According to the Chief Minister, this issue transcends party politics and concerns the very essence of democracy in the country.

The Chief Minister asserted that the BJP nominee had prior knowledge of his victory, evident from his immediate occupation of the chair. He criticized the Presiding Officer for displaying spinelessness and actively working against democracy, which he considered unwarranted and undesirable.