Balachaur (Gurpreet Singh): A political protest in Punjab’s Balachaur took an ugly turn on Sunday after a confrontation broke out between Aam Aadmi Party workers and local BJP leaders, triggering fresh accusations from both sides.
The clash reportedly took place outside the BJP district office in Nawanshahr during demonstrations organised by AAP against recent Enforcement Directorate action involving party leaders.
According to BJP district president Rajwinder Lucky, tensions escalated when he began recording the protest live on his mobile phone. He alleged that amid the heated exchange, some AAP workers attempted to grab his device while Banga MLA Dr. Sukhwinder Sukhi was also present at the scene.
Lucky claimed the protest group had initially been welcomed peacefully, with refreshments arranged at the office. However, he alleged that matters worsened when protesters entered the premises and removed audio equipment kept inside.
He said his objection to the incident led to a verbal altercation, after which several workers allegedly approached him aggressively while he continued livestreaming the events.
Eyewitnesses said the confrontation created panic for several minutes as workers from both parties exchanged sharp slogans and accusations.
Police personnel stationed nearby quickly intervened and managed to separate the rival groups before the situation could spiral further. Officials remained at the site until the crowd dispersed.
The BJP later accused AAP workers of intimidation and misuse of power, with senior leaders condemning the incident as political hooliganism.
Several state BJP functionaries announced plans to submit a formal complaint to police authorities, seeking legal action against those allegedly involved.
The confrontation comes amid heightened political tensions across Punjab, where AAP workers have been staging coordinated protests over the ED’s recent action against party figures.
