LUDHIANA (GURPREET SINGH): BJP leader and former Union minister Ravneet Singh Bittu was detained by Punjab Police on Saturday after staging a protest outside Punjab Agricultural University (PAU) in Ludhiana, where Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann was scheduled to attend Kisan Mela.
Bittu arrived near Gate No. 8 of the university shortly before Mann’s arrival and held up a liquor bottle while addressing the media. He described the gesture as “returning the bottle” to the Chief Minister and made political remarks targeting Mann and AAP national convener Arvind Kejriwal.
Bittu also carried eggs and tomatoes, saying these were among the items that had allegedly been thrown at his cavalcade a day earlier. He said he was returning them as a response to the incident and argued that the BJP would continue to exercise its right to hold democratic protests.
Protest follows Batala confrontation
The Ludhiana demonstration came a day after Bittu alleged that his convoy was targeted near Ghasitpur village while he was travelling towards Pathankot for the BJP’s ‘Nasha Mukt Punjab Yatra’.
According to Bittu, eggs and stones were thrown at vehicles in his convoy and some vehicles were damaged. His security personnel also reportedly apprehended three people, whom Bittu alleged were associated with the Aam Aadmi Party. These claims have been reported as allegations, while the circumstances surrounding the confrontation remain subject to investigation.
Police reached the spot during the Batala incident and intervened. Bittu subsequently demanded action over what he described as a security failure and said he had raised the matter with senior authorities.
Political confrontation intensifies
Saturday’s protest adds another episode to the growing confrontation between the BJP and the AAP government in Punjab, with both sides exchanging allegations over political demonstrations and law-and-order issues.
Bittu said the BJP would continue raising issues through protests and public campaigns, while his detention followed his demonstration as the Chief Minister’s convoy passed the university gate.
