‘Liquor distribution’ after rally: SAD leaders get show- cause notices

A day after Punjab chief electoral officer (CEO) S Karuna Raju asked the Tarn Taran district electoral officer-cum-deputy commissioner Pardeep Sabharwal to submit a report on alleged distribution of liquor after a Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) rally at a village, Sabharwal on Thursday sent show-cause notices to party leader Gurinder Singh Tony and others.

The Tarn Taran DC said action is being taken as per directions of the chief electoral officer who termed the distribution of liquor a gross violation of the model code of conduct.

The rally was organised at Dehra Sahib village in the district, during which Shiromani Akali Dal (Taksali) president Ranjit Singh Brahmpura’s nephew Gurinder Singh Tony joined the SAD. Former Akali minister Bikram Singh Majithia, party candidate from Khadoor Sahib for the Lok Sabha polls, Bibi Jagir Kaur, district president Virsa Singh Valtoha, former Tarn Taran MLA Harmeet Singh Sandhu and former Baba Bakala MLA Manjit Singh Manna were present on the occasion.

Brahmpura, however, has claimed Tony is not related to him and he happens to be from his village.

The CEO initiated action after the media certification and monitoring committee brought to his notice that a news channel reported the violation of model code of conduct by SAD by distributing liquor after the rally.

He issued instructions to the district electoral officer to submit a comprehensive report on the matter within 24 hours. The SAD district president has also been served notice, pointing towards other violations of the model code of conduct.

The meeting was organised at the house of Tony without permission and political speeches were made on the occasion, it is learnt.

Loudspeakers were also used, in violation of the code, the notice reads. The DC has asked the SAD leaders to submit reply within 24-hours or action will be taken against them.