Simarjit Bains, Manpreet Ayali supporters clash in Ludhiana over pasting of posters

Ludhiana, Punjab (March 16, 2014): The supporters of SAD-BJP candidate for Ludhiana seat Manpreet Ayali and Independent candidate Simarjit Bains clashed at Bhai Randhir Singh Nagar on Saturday (March 15).

According to The Tribune (TT), [t]he incident occurred when Simarjit Bains’ supporters were pasting stickers on the vehicles of passersby.

SAD’s Ludhiana (Urban) president Hira Singh Gabria alleged, “When some passersby objected, including relatives of a Badal Dal leader, Bains’ supporters started altercation with them”.

The police reportedly arrested Simarjit Bains’ supporters.

On the other hand Simarjit Bains alleged that his supporters were wrongfully detained by the Ludhaina police.

When some other supporters of Simarjit Bains, including councillor Kamaljit Singh Karwal, reached the police station, the police reportedly did not open the main gate of the police station. After that two sides allegedly attacked each other with sharp-edged weapons. The clash left several persons injured.

Simarjit Bains reportedly raised slogans against the Punjab government and alleged that Ludhaina police was extending undue support to Badal Dal candidate Manpreet Ayali and his supporters.

It is notable that Simarjit Bains and Balwinder Bains had contested 2012 assembly elections as independent candidates after SAD (Badal) had declined to grant them two assembly tickets. After securing victory on both seat they had re-joined SAD (Badal) as associate member. They have again revolted against SAD (Badal) after the party declined to grant Lok Sabha ticket to Simarjit Bains.

Ludhiana is expected to witness intense and interesting election as Congress party has re-fielded sitting MP Manish Tiwari from this seat where as Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) candidate and senior Surpeme Court lawyer HS Phoolka is also contesting election from Ludhiana.