In a major political and legal development, Leader of Opposition in the Punjab Assembly, Partap Singh Bajwa, has approached the Punjab and Haryana High Court against the ruling Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) government. The petition alleges a "brutal assault on democracy" during the filing of nomination papers for the zila parishad and block samiti elections on December 4.
PIL Seeks CBI Probe and Election Date Extension
Filed through advocate Arshpreet Singh Khadial, the Public Interest Litigation (PIL) urges the court for several key interventions. Bajwa has requested an extension of the nomination filing date, a Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) inquiry into the role of police officials, and the creation of an independent mechanism to monitor the election process. The plea argues the process was "brazenly compromised" by the ruling regime.
An urgent listing was sought before the Chief Justice, citing grave violations. The court has scheduled the matter for a hearing on December 8.
Allegations of State-Sponsored Anarchy on December 4
Bajwa, a senior Congress leader, stated that the events of December 4 exposed a complete collapse of law and order under the Bhagwant Mann-led government. He accused the AAP of behaving like a "frightened regime" desperate to sabotage democratic participation through intimidation and violence, rather than a confident administration.
The petition details a series of alleged incidents where Congress candidates were systematically targeted:
- Nomination papers were snatched, torn, and destroyed.
- Several candidates were physically assaulted, and their turbans were pulled off in acts of humiliation.
- Many were illegally detained, blocked, or physically prevented from reaching nomination centres.
- No-objection certificates (NOCs) were intentionally delayed or denied by officials.
- Police personnel allegedly stood as silent spectators or actively participated in the abuse of power.
Bajwa claimed the entire process was manipulated with the sole aim of preventing Congress candidates from exercising their constitutional rights.
Constitutional Rights Violated, Democratic Fabric Under Threat
The PIL contends that the incidents amount to a direct violation of Articles 14, 19(1)(a), and 21 of the Indian Constitution, stripping citizens of equality, freedom of expression, and the right to participate in a free and fair electoral process.
"Democracy was not merely undermined; it was assaulted in broad daylight under the full watch of the Mann government," Bajwa asserted. He accused the AAP of reducing Punjab's constitutional processes to a mockery and showing a dangerous willingness to weaponise the state machinery for political gain.
The Congress leader affirmed that the party would not allow Punjab to become a laboratory for the AAP's "authoritarian impulses" and vowed to continue fighting to protect the state's democratic fabric from systematic misuse of power. The legal action seeks justice for every aspiring candidate unlawfully prevented from filing nominations and accountability for the officials involved.
