Chandigarh, February 9
Chandigarh witnessed high drama as the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) ministers and thousands of supporters set out on a march toward the residence of Leader of Opposition Partap Singh Bajwa, sparking a tense standoff with police.
Anticipating trouble, Chandigarh Police had already fortified the area with barricades. When AAP workers attempted to breach them, the situation quickly escalated into pushing, shoving and heated verbal clashes. To disperse the crowd, police deployed water cannons and carried out a mild lathi-charge, forcing many protesters to retreat.
Notably, AAP is protesting against Bajwa because of remarks he allegedly made that were seen as derogatory and casteist. Bajwa reportedly referred to Punjab Cabinet Minister Harbhajan Singh ETO, who comes from a Dalit background, as a “band player” during a rally. AAP leaders condemned this as an insult not only to the minister but to the entire Dalit community, accusing the Congress of having an “anti-Dalit mindset.”
AAP demanded an apology within 24 hours but when none was given, they today staged a massive protest in Chandigarh. The demonstrations included symbolic “band baja” processions to highlight Bajwa’s alleged remarks. Congress leaders, however, denied the accusations, claiming AAP was twisting facts and exploiting sensitive caste issues for political mileage.
Meanwhile, the protest was led by senior AAP leaders and cabinet ministers including Harbhajan Singh ETO, Dr. Balbir Singh, Mahendra Bhagat and Harpal Singh Cheema. They accused the police of acting with undue force. The police, however, defended their actions, citing security concerns as the reason for halting the march.
What unfolded was more than a street protest—it was a vivid display of Punjab’s charged political atmosphere, where barricades, water cannons, and slogans collided in a battle of authority versus dissent.
