Punjab assembly elections: Notice to AAP's Ropar candidate for flouting Covid norms

ROPAR: Returning Officer Rupnagar Gurwinder Singh Johal on Thursday issued a show-cause notice to AAP candidate Dinesh Chadha for gathering people without any prior permission as well as violating Covid-19 guidelines issued by Election Commission of India and he also instructed him to give clarification within 24 hours regarding the issue.
The Returning Officer said that the Facebook ID of Dinesh Chadha shows that he has violated the Covid Revised Broad Guidelines-2022 which has been issued by the Election Commission of India.
Chadha gathered a large group of people at the Lalpura village in Nurpurbedi of Ropar district. Besides this, more people than the number fixed by the Election Commissioner gathered by him at Shri Baba Balak Nath Mandir, Ghanauli. Such a gathering by an AAP candidate without any prior permission is an open violation of the model code of conduct. As per the order issued by the Election Commission, such gatherings are prohibited till January 15, 2022.
Johal further said that the Code of Conduct would remain in force till March 12, 2022 from the announcement of elections to completion of elections.
If a person violates the Code of Conduct or the Covid Protocol, legal action may be taken against violators under the Disaster Management Act-2005 and guidelines regarding the code of conduct.