Chandigarh, February 14
The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) held a massive protest at Desh Bhagat University against the proposed visit of Haryana Chief Minister Nayab Singh Saini. Hundreds of workers, led by AAP MLA Gurinder Singh Garry Birring from Amloh, gathered outside the venue, raised slogans against the BJP-led Central Government and the Haryana Chief Minister, and burned an effigy of Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Amid strong opposition from AAP workers and local residents, Nayab Singh Saini was compelled to cancel his visit and return. Addressing the media during the protest, AAP MLA Gurinder Singh Garry Birring said, “It is a very unfortunate matter that Punjab Governor Gulab Chand Kataria, instead of coming himself, sent Haryana Chief Minister Nayab Singh Saini to this programme. I want to ask the Governor whether Punjab does not have its own ministers or leaders.”
The AAP MLA further stated, “The Governor Sahib could have assigned duty to any minister of Punjab, but on the directions of the BJP, Haryana’s Chief Minister is being deliberately sent to Punjab’s institutions so that Haryana’s interference in Punjab’s matters can be increased.” Referring to the cancellation of the visit, Gurinder Singh Garry Birring said, “Seeing the opposition by AAP karyakartas and local people, Haryana Chief Minister Nayab Singh Saini had to cancel his visit and return.”
Issuing a strong warning, he added, “Such BJP leaders will not be allowed to enter the sacred land and educational institutions of Punjab at all, who always stand against the interests of Punjab.” During the protest, Gurinder Singh Garry Birring also raised concerns over the India-US trade agreement and targeted the Central Government. He said, “This agreement is another attempt to ruin Punjab’s farmers and businessmen. In this agreement, Punjab’s agriculture has been completely ignored.” He concluded by announcing, “On the arrival of any BJP minister or leader from an outside state in Punjab, they will be cornered in the same manner.”
