Bittu’s hoadings spark row, SAD, BJP accuse party of flouting code

Ludhiana: The installation of hoardings glorifying Congress MP Ravneet Singh Bittu on Ferozepur Road has sparked a row among political parties, especially SAD and BJP, claiming it to be a violation of the election code of conduct.
Interestingly, the district election officer-cum-deputy commissioner Pardeep Kumar Agrawal has negated the allegation. He, however, has claimed that the complaint and expenditure of the hoardings will be accessed.

The hoardings highlight various works initiated by Bittu through MPLAD funds besides some of his achievements like shifting of encroachers from Jagraon bridge, pushing the railway authorities to start the bridge construction, protest at toll plaza etc. The slogan ‘Ik vaar fer Bittu’ (Bittu once again) can be seen on the hoardings sponsored by district Congress president Ashwani Sharma.

Sources revealed that through these hoardings, the Congress MP and his supporters have tried to answer the questions raised by SAD and BJP leaders who had asked the sitting MP to count his achievements. Instead of giving any statement, they have shown everything on the hoardings, sources said.

BJP leader Kamal Chaitely said, “The code of conduct has been imposed and Bittu is the sitting MP, so he should not be allowed to advertise anything like this. I have taken up the matter with the DC and will file a written complaint on Monday demanding their removal.”

Meanwhile, SAD leader Tanvir Dhaliwal said, “We will forward a complaint to the Election Commission for the removal of these hoardings. Not even a single thing mention on the hoardings is true and these have been erected only to mislead the voters. The Congress has failed to complete the works started during the SAD-BJP tenure.”

Claiming that the hoardings were erected as public information, Bittu said, “These are paid hoardings and the opposition has the right to complain. The hoardings have been installed through the district congress committee. Moreover, the official announcement of candidates is still awaited. These hoardings are only for public information about what their elected MP has done in the past five years.”

Agrawal said, “To advertise at legal sites by paying money is not a violation of the code of conduct. But we will check whether the publisher has mentioned his name and the number of prints of the hoardings.” Since candidates have not filed their nominations, the expenditure will be counted from the party’s expenses, he said. Also, the private advertising company hired by the MC cannot give all the sites to one party as all the parties have the right to advertise, but it should be done in a legal manner, he added.