Chandigarh, August 21, 2025: Political tensions escalated in Punjab after the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) accused the ruling Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) government of obstructing its rural outreach initiatives and detaining senior leaders.
A BJP delegation, led by Union Minister of State Ravneet Singh Bittu, submitted a memorandum to Governor Gulab Chand Kataria, alleging that the state administration is deliberately interfering with its campaign. The BJP’s programme, titled “BJP De Sevadar Aa Gaye Tuhade Dwar”, is being conducted at the village level and aims to spread awareness about central government welfare schemes. The camps focus on enabling people to access benefits under flagship initiatives like Ayushman Bharat, PM-Kisan Samman Nidhi, Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana, and the e-Shram portal.
Party leaders claimed that several BJP functionaries faced police action during the campaign. Former MP Sushil Kumar Rinku and former MLA KD Bhandari were allegedly detained during activities in Jalandhar. The BJP further alleged that police reached the residence of Pathankot district president Suresh Kumar, sparking outrage among local workers. Reports of a scuffle between BJP supporters and the police have also surfaced.
Addressing the media, Ravneet Singh Bittu charged the AAP government with “deliberately stalling” central welfare schemes. “When we tried to take these benefits directly to people, our workers were detained. This is an attack on democracy, and we will launch a public movement against such high-handedness,” he said.
The AAP, however, has maintained that the opposition must follow proper protocols and ensure data security while conducting such drives. Party insiders indicated that unauthorized collection of people’s personal details in these camps raised governance and privacy concerns.
With both sides refusing to back down, the confrontation highlights the deepening rivalry between the BJP and AAP in Punjab’s political landscape. As the BJP steps up its efforts to strengthen its rural base, the ruling AAP faces the challenge of balancing governance control with accusations of suppressing opposition activity.
