Chandigarh: The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) staged a protest in Chandigarh on Monday against remarks made by Congress leaders Pratap Singh Bajwa and Amarinder Singh Raja Warring targeting Punjab minister Harbhajan Singh ETO, leading to a confrontation with police near the Congress leader’s residence.
AAP workers marched towards Bajwa’s house, playing band music as a mark of protest. Anticipating unrest, police deployed water cannons and erected barricades outside the MLA Hostel in Sector 4. Despite the security arrangements, protesters attempted to push ahead, triggering a clash with the police.
Police used water cannons to disperse the crowd, during which several protesters’ turbans reportedly came off. Senior AAP leaders, including finance minister Harpal Singh Cheema, minister Harbhajan Singh ETO and health minister Balbir Singh, were detained by the police to prevent the situation from escalating further.
The protest followed controversial comments by Congress legislature party leader Pratap Singh Bajwa, who had remarked that Harbhajan Singh ETO “used to play in a band and is now playing with Punjab”. The issue escalated further after Punjab Congress president Amarinder Singh Raja Warring allegedly made a remark suggesting physical violence against the minister.
AAP leaders termed the statements “insulting and threatening” and accused the Congress leadership of lowering the level of political discourse. The party said such remarks against an elected minister were unacceptable and warranted a strong response.
