Samana, May 18: After a night-long dharna by two candidates–Dharamvira Gandhi and Surjit Singh Rakhra, the administration has seized huge amounts of country-made liquor from a building in Samana, allegedly owned by Congress supporters.
Liquor bottles lying at the place in Samana.
Prima facie an attempt was made to transport the illegally stored liquor away after the matter attracted attention.Liquor bottles were found strewn in open space on the building premises.
Following the recovery, Rakhra said this is a clear indication that the Congress had accepted its defeat. “The Congress has stooped so low and is using all measures to grab power.”
Posters and banners of Congress candidate Preneet Kaur were also found.SDM Naman Marken said excise officials had been informed and a case would be registered after investigation.
Role of EC, admn under scanner
The role of the election commission and administration has come under the scanner.
Complainant Rakhra said he informed the administration officials at about 10.30 pm but they failed to take immediate action. Following which both the candidates, along with their supporters, staged a dharna on the Patiala-Patran road.
“Officials remained mute spectators for hours. The tehsildar, SDM and the DSP were on the spot but they did not act,” he said.
Gandhi said, “The officials willfully delayed action that helped the Congress supporters in clearing the premises of illegal liquor. A few vehicles loaded with liquor had also moved out without check. We want a strict action against all the guilty.”
Both leaders have threatened to file cases against the EC for the delay.
Gandhi live-streams raid
Raising questions over the transparency of the administration, Gandhi live-streamed the raid as the media were denied entry.
The SDM said, “Initially the media can’t be allowed entry as per law. We will inform the media later.”
Meanwhile, the Congress cadre have outright rejected that the liquor was stored by them. “We are already winning the seat by over 1 lakh votes. We demand a thorough probe into this. This is a conspiracy to malign our image ahead of the polling day,” they said.
Meanwhile, police have registered a FIR against the building owners Bheem Bansal and Golu Bansal. Both are Congress supporters.
