The political rally of Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) prime ministerial candidate Narendra Modi left the city defaced yet again, as hundreds of political posters and banners were pasted on the walls and pillars of government property on National Highway 1.
Besides, more than a dozen banners were also installed on the walls of green belts near Jalandhar Bypass ahead of Modi's rally.
Ironically, though police personnel were deployed near the Dana Mandi, venue for Modi's rally, they failed to check the defacement.
According to the norms, posters cannot be pasted on government property, and can be pasted on private property only with permission.
A visit to Jalandhar Bypass revealed that pillars of the flyover were completely defaced with banners displaying pictures of Shiromani Akali Dal-Bharatiya Janata Party (SAD-BJP) leaders, while hundreds of posters of Modi were pasted on walls.
Talwinder Singh, a city resident, said, “The election commission should ensure proper implementation of the model code of conduct for free and fair election. Nobody should be allowed to deface the city. The municipal corporation officials should also keep a check on the violations.”
When contacted, general observer for Lok Sabha elections, SP Thakur expressed ignorance about posters on government property. He said, “I will visit the venue and if any violation is found, action will be taken.”
{{/usCountry}}When contacted, general observer for Lok Sabha elections, SP Thakur expressed ignorance about posters on government property. He said, “I will visit the venue and if any violation is found, action will be taken.”
{{/usCountry}}Abdul Sattar, superintendent of Zone B, who looks after Ludhiana East constituency, said posters and banners could not be pasted on government property.
Rajeev Bharadwaj, superintendent of tehbazari wing at Zone A, MC, said they were perpetually removing illegal banners and posters from different places in the city. On being asked about the banners installed at the green belts ahead of Modi's rally, he said he had no such information and would look into the matter.
Despite several attempts, MC additional commissioner Davinder Singh could not be contacted.