Chandigarh, April 30
BJP National General Secretary Tarun Chugh today launched a scathing attack on Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann, accusing him of deliberately undermining the judiciary in a manner similar to AAP convenor Arvind Kejriwal.
Chugh said that instead of respecting judicial processes, Bhagwant Mann has chosen to evade accountability by calling a special session of the Punjab Assembly on May 1—the very day a Mansa court had directed him to appear in person in an ongoing defamation case. He remarked that this reflects a conscious attempt to bypass the authority of the court.
Referring to court observations, Chugh pointed out that Mann has not appeared even once since 2022, repeatedly filing exemption pleas on vague grounds. The court has already taken note of his conduct, warning that failure to appear could lead to cancellation of bail and coercive measures to ensure his presence. “This is not just negligence; it is a pattern of disregard towards judicial proceedings,” Chugh said.
Chugh added that even the plea for appearance through video conferencing had been rejected earlier, yet Mann continues to avoid personal appearance. “This clearly exposes his intent and attitude towards the rule of law,” he noted.
Chugh further said that calling an Assembly session on Labour Day—something unprecedented in the last four years—raises serious questions about the Chief Minister’s priorities. “After failing to address the concerns of labourers in Punjab, Mann is now using governance as a shield to escape legal scrutiny,” he said.
Taking a broader swipe at the AAP leadership, Chugh alleged that the party has a consistent track record of attacking and undermining constitutional institutions. “From Delhi to Punjab, AAP leaders have shown a tendency to defy courts and weaken democratic structures for political convenience,” he added.
