Congress, BJP, SAD join hands to protest rejection of papers in Barnala, Malout

Bathinda: Leaders and workers of Congress, BJP and Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) jointly protested in parts of Punjab on Tuesday against the rejection of nomination papers of candidates for municipal corporation and municipal council elections, alleging political interference by the ruling Aam Aadmi Party (AAP).Aam Aadmi Party MP Gurmeet Singh Meet Hayer, who is spearheading the party campaign in Barnala, refuted the claims, saying that they had not put any pressure on anyone to reject nomination papers of any candidate. "The administration must have acted freely as per merit," he said.Opposition, however, stepped up the attack. Joint protests by Congress, BJP and SAD leaders were held at Barnala and Malout in Muktsar district, while Congress and SAD separately staged protests in Bathinda. Similar protests were also held at Muktsar.The protests intensified after nomination papers of BJP candidate Rajni Rani from Ward 31 in Barnala were rejected late Monday night.Rajni Rani's husband Joginder Pal alleged that the nomination papers were initially cleared on Monday evening but were later rejected. "Earlier on Monday evening we were told that the nomination papers had been found correct and approved, but after 11.30pm we learnt that they had been rejected," he said.Following the rejection, Congress MLA Kuldeep Singh Dhillon joined BJP Barnala district president Yadwinder Shunty, SAD Barnala in-charge Kulwant Singh and rebel AAP leader Gurdeep Singh Baath in a protest outside the Barnala deputy commissioner's office.After being removed from outside the office, the protesters blocked the road outside the district administrative complex. Police later dispersed them from the site.Dhillon said leaders had risen above party lines to oppose the "highhandedness". "Even though the papers rejected were of a BJP candidate, we decided to protest together against the manner in which this was done," he said.Later, leaders of the three parties held a meeting at Aggarwal Dharamshala in Barnala, where former Union minister Vijay Sampla accused the AAP govt of targeting opposition candidates to ensure victories for ruling party nominees.The parties also announced a Barnala bandh on May 20 from 8am to 2pm and appealed to residents to assemble at the railway station at 8am.In Bathinda, Congress district president Rajan Garg alleged that nomination papers of six Congress candidates had been rejected. Congress workers staged a protest outside the deputy commissioner's office and submitted a memorandum to DC Rajesh Dhiman.At Malout, leaders and workers of different parties took out a protest march, while political workers staged a sit-in at Muktsar.Barnala DC Harpreet Singh and ADC Vivek Kumar Modi could not be contacted despite repeated calls and messages.No pressure from us: AAP MPAam Aadmi Party MP Gurmeet Singh Meet Hayer, who is spearheading the party campaign in Barnala, denied putting any pressure about rejection of the nomination papers of any candidate. He said the administration must have acted freely as per merit.