Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) workers staged a protest in Jalandhar on Monday during the visit of Punjab BJP in-charge Satish Poonia and protest was held over the recent visit of three BJP MPs to the residence of former Congress MP Sajjan Kumar to offer condolences.
Poonia had reached the Lions Club in Jalandhar for a meeting when AAP workers gathered outside the venue, where the protesters raised slogans against the BJP and attempted to move towards the club premises. Police personnel deployed at the spot stopped the protesters from entering the venue.
Barricades were put up outside the Lions Club and a heavy police force was deployed in view of the protest. The police prevented the protesters from moving inside the meeting venue to avoid any escalation.
AAP leader Sajjan Singh led the protest. Several party workers were seen carrying placards and raising slogans against the BJP and one of the slogans on the placards read, “Congress is the killer, and BJP is the sympathizer.”
The protest was linked to a controversy involving BJP MPs Ramvir Singh Bidhuri, Yogendra Chandolia and Kamaljeet Sehrawat and the three MPs had visited the residence of Sajjan Kumar to offer condolences following a death in his family.
Sajjan Kumar, a former Congress MP, was convicted in a case related to the 1984 anti-Sikh riots. His visit by the BJP MPs drew criticism, particularly from political opponents and following the controversy, BJP National President Nitin Navin summoned the three MPs and reprimanded them.
They were also warned against repeating such acts of indiscipline.
The issue has now become a political point of confrontation in Punjab, with the AAP using the controversy to target the BJP. During Poonia’s Jalandhar visit, AAP workers chose to protest outside the venue where the BJP meeting was being held, while the police deployment remained heavy around the Lions Club as the protesters raised slogans and held placards.
The protest comes at a time when the BJP is increasing its political activities in Punjab ahead of the 2027 Assembly elections. Poonia, who has recently taken charge as the BJP’s Punjab in-charge, has been visiting the state and holding meetings with party leaders and workers.
The Jalandhar protest brought the Sajjan Kumar controversy into the state’s political discourse, with the AAP demanding accountability from the BJP over the visit by its MPs.
