Punjab Sleeper Bus Row Escalates as NHRC Member Targets Kejriwal

New Delhi, October 24: The row over sleeper buses in Punjab escalated on Saturday after National Human Rights Commission member Priyank Kanoongo accused AAP national convener Arvind Kejriwal of standing in the way of a safety probe.

Kanoongo said on X that the Punjab government has claimed no sleeper bus is registered in the state. He argued that Kejriwal's opposition to the NHRC's inquiry was therefore difficult to understand.

He wrote in a sharp tone, "Don't be afraid, Arvind. We have not yet begun investigating the commissions you are getting from these buses."

The NHRC member accused the AAP leader of putting public safety at risk for commissions and political gains. He insisted that the government's duty was to make bus travel safe, not to profit from its lapses.

He also warned that accountability would be fixed if any citizen's life came under threat.

Kanoongo said the notice issued to Punjab was linked to a nationwide campaign and not an isolated action. He claimed that during the past one year, the commission had taken steps against nearly 1,000 buses that failed to meet the required standards. Such vehicles, he said, were either withdrawn from service or subjected to restrictions.

He pointed out that the Punjab transport department had told the commission in January 2026 that no sleeper coach bus was registered in the state. Kanoongo said that if this was the case, authorities needed to find out on what basis such buses were operating, which is why a letter seeking an investigation had been sent.

Kejriwal had previously questioned the NHRC's scrutiny of sleeper buses. He said the commission had carried out an inspection for the first time and had singled out Super Deluxe buses in Punjab, which people use for religious travel.

He had also asked whether the NHRC had examined Uttar Pradesh Roadways or buses from other states. He claimed that focusing only on Punjab raised several questions.

According to reports, the NHRC had received a complaint about unsafe buses operating in Punjab. A bench headed by Kanoongo then issued a notice to the state government, seeking its response.

The political war of words has now intensified, and bus safety in Punjab has become a subject of wide public debate.