Cheema visited Moonak: Report

Chandigarh, January 24
A day after a complaint by PPP candidate from Lehragaga Bhagwant Mann, it has been learnt that Chief Minister’s Special Principal Secretary KJS Cheema did attend a meeting in Moonak yesterday. However, what he spoke there could not be established.

A satirist-turned-politician, Bhagwant Mann had complained to the Election Commission that Cheema allegedly addressed a meeting and sought mandate in favour of his rival and Congress candidate Rajinder Kaur Bhattal.

The visit was “confirmed” in a report that Punjab Chief Electoral Officer Kusumjit Sidhu had sought from the poll officials concerned.

Chief Secretary Subodh Chandra Agrawal has forwarded the report, prepared by Sangrur SSP HS Bhullar, to Kusumjit. While the SSP was not available for comment, sources said he had submitted a report that confirmed Cheema’s visit to Moonak in Lehragaga constituency.

Agrawal confirmed he had submitted the report to the CEO, though he refused to divulge the details. Kusumjit said she had received the report, which had been forwarded to the Election Commission in Delhi. “They will take the final call,” she said.

Mann had alleged that Cheema held a meeting at his residence in Moonak Mandi with the local leaders in the presence of Bhattal. “Cheema not only assured Bhattal of his support but also openly persuaded the people present there to vote for the Congress candidate,” he said.

Not only was this a violation of the poll code but was also against the conduct of the officer concerned (Cheema), Mann alleged.

Cheema was not available for comments despite repeated attempts.