Punjab’s former Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal on Sunday described the entire process of civic poll as “utterly uncivilised” and a huge blow to democracy in Punjab.
“This day will be remembered as a Black Sunday for democracy in Punjab,” he said.
Badal said that this was the first election to local bodies in Punjab in which the Chief Minister made it clear on day one of campaign that it was not the Congress but the government and the state machinery against other political parties.
The former CM said that it was democracy wherein Punjabis were pitted against government’s state machinery. “Opposition parties were not allowed to contest at most places through non-issuance of NOCs and willful and wanton rejection of nomination papers. At many places, bogus voters from outside outnumbered the local and genuine voters,” he said.
Questioning the role played by the State Election Commissioner, Badal said that it was a match in which the referee not only shrugged his shoulder saying that he was helpless but he actually looked like a member of the team government.