Chandigarh, March 22 The Shiromani Akali Dal and Congress on Sunday claimed that a PCS officer was subjected to mental harassment by the Moga deputy commissioner to ensure that AAP candidates were elected as chairperson and vice-chairperson of the Baghapurana Panchayat Samiti.
Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) leaders Sukhbir Singh Badal and Bikram Singh Majithia, and Congress leaders Partap Singh Bajwa and Pargat Singh shared a purported letter from the PCS officer and Baghapurana Sub-Divisional Magistrate (SDM) Babandeep Singh Walia, in which he complained against Moga DC and IAS officer Sagar Setia.
Setia, however, rejected the allegations against him and said that Walia was under investigation due to complaints received from members of the panchayat samiti.
This comes at a time when the AAP government is facing criticism over allegations that former minister Laljit Singh Bhullar incited the suicide of a state warehousing corporation official, Gagandeep Singh Randhawa. The opposition has been demanding Bhullar's arrest.
According to the letter presented by the SAD and Congress leaders, the SDM Walia, in his complaint to the chief secretary on Sunday, accused Setia of causing extreme harassment, mental agony, and torture in connection with the chairperson and vice-chairperson elections of the Baghapurana Panchayat Samiti.
Walia claimed that the elections, which were scheduled to be held on March 17, could not be completed due to a law and order situation at the venue, and that he had duly informed the Moga DC about this in a timely manner.
The SDM wrote in his complaint that such actions appeared to be influenced by extraneous considerations, with the intent to compel the declaration of election results in favour of particular candidates, which is contrary to the principles of free and fair elections and administrative propriety.
SAD president Badal alleged that Walia was being subjected to mental harassment to forcibly elect AAP candidates to the positions of chairperson and vice-chairperson.
Despite writing to the chief secretary, the SDM was not getting justice, he charged.
SAD's Majithia also claimed that pressure was being exerted on the SDM to act against the rules.
The SDM wrote the letter at 3:13 am to the chief secretary seeking protection, a fair inquiry, and a transfer, he claimed.
"Like Gagandeep Randhawa, another officer is being pushed to the brink," he alleged.
Leader of Opposition in the Punjab Assembly Partap Singh Bajwa slammed the AAP government.
"After the tragic death of Gagandeep Singh Randhawa, now disturbing reports suggest that SDM Baghapurana, Babandeep Singh, is being pressured to favour AAP candidates," he said.
"Are officers now being reduced to political agents? This is a direct attack on democracy and governance. Strong-arm tactics, coercion, and mental harassment of officers must stop immediately," the Congress leader said.
Setia dismissed the allegations against him.
He said that an inquiry is already underway against the SDM based on complaints lodged by the panchayat samiti members.