Avoid ill practices: Bittu to Pb officers

Patiala: Union minister Ravneet Singh Bittu on Wednesday urged the Punjab govt officials to refrain from “high-handed tactics and ill practices” that could disrupt the democratic process during the civic body elections in the state.
Bittu alleged that the IAS and IPS officers, under political pressure, were delaying the issuance of NOCs and discouraging the BJP candidates from filing their nominations.
“The officers must remember that their cadres are with the central govt and strict monitoring is being conducted on those involved in such acts under the influence of the Aam Aadmi Party-led Punjab govt,” said Bittu. He emphasised that substantial proof against any official indulging in such activities would result in FIRs being registered through the Election Commission. The BJP has also instructed its workers to video-record any incident of undue pressure.
“Let me remind these officers that neither Bhagwant Mann nor Arvind Kejriwal will stand by them in their hour of crisis,” warned Bittu. The minister also made a heartfelt appeal to the voters of Patiala to elect a BJP mayor for the city’s overall development. “A BJP mayor will have direct access to the party’s central leadership and ensure the initiation of major projects for Patiala’s growth. Cities in states like Haryana, Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh, and Maharashtra have already benefited from the BJP’s development agenda,” he said.
Later in the day, Bittu, accompanied by senior leaders Ashwani Sharma, Preneet Kaur, Jay Inder Kaur, and Daaman Bajwa, visited the deputy commissioner’s office in Patiala to file nominations for BJP candidates contesting the corporation elections.