Row surrounding Bittu’s posters refuses to die down

Ludhiana: The controversy between the Congress and the BJP over the inclusion of Punjab’s former chief minister Beant Singh’s picture in Ravneet Singh Bittu’s banners took a new turn on Tuesday with a single person claiming to be owning all the properties where the publicity material has been been put up.

Alongside the banners of BJP’s candidate Bittu fixed outside private estates in Ludhiana’s posh pockets, NOCs (no-objection certificates) have been pinned, which are signed by a single person named Sunny. These certificates also mention that the property owner has allowed the said party to put up banners for the Lok Sabha elections without charging any money and the publicity material can remain on the walls from April 19 till June 5.

During a fact check by TOI, it was found that the contact number mentioned in the NOCs was invalid, making it either a case of an ardent supporter who happens to “own” multiple properties in city’s posh localities, or the handiwork of the party’s machinery trying to stay off the Election Commission of India’s (ECI) radar. As per the ECI guidelines, to display any kind of poster and banner at the private properties, self-declaration/NOC is required from the owner.

It is pertinent to mention that most of the properties where these banners have come up are vacant plots or abandoned spaces in Malhar Road, Pakhowal Road, Gurdev Nagar and Model Gram areas.

When contacted, BJP’s state general secretary Anil Sareen said, “Usually, this type of work is carried out by the district unit, whose president can tell better about the issue. I will have to speak with the party in-charge concerned abut this.” Comments of BJP’s district chief Rajnish Dhiman could not be elicited on the matter.

This issue had recently snowballed into a controversy with the Punjab Congress chief Amarinder Singh Raja Warring criticising Bittu for using his grandfather’s legacy for gaining political mileage. Reacting to his comments, Bittu had said, “It was due to my grandfather that Punjab came out of its dark era and the Congress could stand up on its feet here. But unfortunately, the Congress has always ignored his contribution. Here, in the BJP, full respect is accorded to the martyrs, which is why I have decided to use his photograph along with other party leaders in the poster.”

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