Punjab’s political landscape heated up Friday as Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) organized massive demonstrations statewide, protesting Congress opposition leader Pratap Singh Bajwa’s inflammatory casteist jabs at Minister Harbhajan Singh ETO. From bustling urban centers to rural outposts, AAP supporters flooded the roads, holding placards and raising voices for accountability.
Baltej Pannu, a prominent AAP figure, minced no words: Bajwa’s derogatory statements shamefully target not only ETO but strike at the heart of Dalits and Punjab’s labor force. ‘Congress’s anti-Dalit prejudice stands naked before the people,’ he said, urging Bajwa and party bosses to apologize publicly without delay.
The wave of protests swept through Hoshiarpur, Amritsar, Ludhiana, Patiala, Bathinda, and beyond, including Malerkotla and Ropar where enthusiastic crowds with musical bands amplified their outrage. AAP workers in every district—from Ferozepur to Tarn Taran—united in rejecting casteist hatred.
AAP leaders posed tough questions to Congress: Is Bajwa’s bigotry the party’s endorsed view? Will top Congress figures condemn it openly, or opt for their trademark reticence on Dalit issues? This confrontation reveals AAP’s resolve to safeguard workers’ honor against entrenched biases.
With echoes of the protests still resonating, AAP has drawn a clear line in Punjab’s political sand, rallying diverse communities under its inclusive banner. As accusations fly, the public watches closely, weighing which party truly fights for equality in the state.