<p>A BJP delegation on Thursday met Punjab Governor V P Singh Badnore, urging him to issue directions for the deployment of paramilitary forces in the state ahead of the body civic polls.</p>.<p>Elections to eight municipal corporations, 109 municipal councils and nagar panchayats in the state will be held on February 14.</p>.<p>The delegation comprised Union minister Som Parkash and senior party leader Madan Mohan Mittal.</p>.<p>They apprised the governor of a “series of attacks” on the BJP leaders, including party's state unit chief Ashwani Sharma and former cabinet minister Tikshan Sood.</p>.<p>“There have been almost two dozen incidents of violence against the BJP workers in which police took no action and rather encouraged the anti-social elements to spread terror,” the delegation alleged, according to astatement.</p>.<p>They said the BJP candidates for the forthcoming municipal elections are being “intimidated and brutally assaulted” all over the state.</p>.<p>“Police officials in Ferozepur, Mansa and Rajpura were openly encouraging these criminal elements to terrorise and harm the BJP candidates,” the BJP leaders alleged.</p>.<p>Earlier, BJP candidates were threatened against filing nominations and now they are not being allowed to campaign for the upcoming municipal polls, they said.</p>.<p>"It is a far too serious situation which demonstrates complete collapse of democratic norms and a play of criminal forces in society", said BJP general secretary Subhash Sharma.</p>.<p>The delegation demanded that the state election commission must ensure that the model code of conduct was followed and the erring officials were punished.</p>.<p>Punjab BJP chief Ashwani Sharma's vehicle on Tuesday was allegedly attacked by some unidentified persons with sticks and rods in Ferozepur. Sharma had gone there for a meeting with local party workers.</p>
<p>A BJP delegation on Thursday met Punjab Governor V P Singh Badnore, urging him to issue directions for the deployment of paramilitary forces in the state ahead of the body civic polls.</p>.<p>Elections to eight municipal corporations, 109 municipal councils and nagar panchayats in the state will be held on February 14.</p>.<p>The delegation comprised Union minister Som Parkash and senior party leader Madan Mohan Mittal.</p>.<p>They apprised the governor of a “series of attacks” on the BJP leaders, including party's state unit chief Ashwani Sharma and former cabinet minister Tikshan Sood.</p>.<p>“There have been almost two dozen incidents of violence against the BJP workers in which police took no action and rather encouraged the anti-social elements to spread terror,” the delegation alleged, according to astatement.</p>.<p>They said the BJP candidates for the forthcoming municipal elections are being “intimidated and brutally assaulted” all over the state.</p>.<p>“Police officials in Ferozepur, Mansa and Rajpura were openly encouraging these criminal elements to terrorise and harm the BJP candidates,” the BJP leaders alleged.</p>.<p>Earlier, BJP candidates were threatened against filing nominations and now they are not being allowed to campaign for the upcoming municipal polls, they said.</p>.<p>"It is a far too serious situation which demonstrates complete collapse of democratic norms and a play of criminal forces in society", said BJP general secretary Subhash Sharma.</p>.<p>The delegation demanded that the state election commission must ensure that the model code of conduct was followed and the erring officials were punished.</p>.<p>Punjab BJP chief Ashwani Sharma's vehicle on Tuesday was allegedly attacked by some unidentified persons with sticks and rods in Ferozepur. Sharma had gone there for a meeting with local party workers.</p>