The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) on Sunday expressed resentment over the ban on its political conference on the occasion of Hola Mohalla here.
The party was scheduled to hold its conference on Sunday, but the district administration did not allow it following the Election Commission (EC) order banning conferences by political parties at Hola Mohalla.
Despite the ban, AAP workers reached the conference venue. The party held a 'workers' meeting' without using loudspeakers.
The AAP candidates for the Lok Sabha polls HS Phoolka (Ludhiana), Dr Dharamvir Gandhi (Patiala) and Sadhu Singh (Faridkot) - and state campaign committee convener Sumel Singh Sidhu were the prominent leaders among a few hundred party workers who attended the meeting.
The speakers refrained from making any political speeches and mudslinging and talked about the progress being made by the party under the leadership of Arvind Kejriwal. They said Kejriwal was fighting for the common man.
Sidhu said the party had completed all arrangements for the conference, but it was informed about the ban by the district administration at the eleventh hour.
He criticised the district administration for its 'double standards' and discriminatory attitude. He alleged that their party was not allowed to hold the conference by officials citing EC orders. However, no official had gone to stop the Shiromani Akali Dal conference.
{{/usCountry}}He criticised the district administration for its 'double standards' and discriminatory attitude. He alleged that their party was not allowed to hold the conference by officials citing EC orders. However, no official had gone to stop the Shiromani Akali Dal conference.
{{/usCountry}}He said the Religious Institution (Prevention of Misuse) Act was misinterpreted while disallowing their conference.
Sidhu said that despite its strong reservations, the party had abided by the EC order and not violated the model code of conduct.
AAP Rupnagar district convener Bhag Singh Madan, senior leader Gurmukh Singh Laungia, SAS Nagar leaders Navtej Singh Bhangu, Himmat Singh Shergill and Nawanshahr leader Vijay Kaura were among those present on the occasion.
Meanwhile, thousands of devotees paid obeisance at Takht Sri Kesgarh Sahib and other historic gurdwaras of Anandpur Sahib and Kiratpur Sahib on the second day of the second phase of Hola Mohalla.