In Punjab face-off, AAP-BJP fight has a Gujarat angle
2
Jalandhar: Punjab chief minister
Bhagwant Mann
's remarks ridiculing Prime Minister Narendra Modi's foreign visits and then calling Union home minister
Amit Shah
"tadipaar" have intensified AAP's political fight with BJP.
Like Punjab, the Arvind Kejriwal-led party has been using such attacks to take on BJP in Gujarat, as AAP has been trying to increase its support base there aggressively and is seeking to position itself as the main opponent to BJP.
Like BJP, Congress and Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) have also been attacking AAP govt on law and order in Punjab, especially after the murder of Abohar-based businessman Sanjay Verma. However, AAP has hit back at the BJP the strongest, accusing it of patronising and using gangsters, specifically Lawrence Bishnoi.
It was after these attacks that the CM targeted the PM and HM, turning it into an AAP-vs-BJP narrative. This was visible on Saturday, when AAP and BJP protested against each other at different places in Punjab. BJP protested the CM's remarks, while AAP protested by accusing BJP of shielding gangsters.
B
by Taboola
by Taboola
Sponsored Links
Sponsored Links
Promoted Links
Promoted Links
You May Like
高齢者のための痛みのない血糖測定に最適な血糖値測定器！
Wmet
今すぐ購入
oth parties, working as cohesive units with strong and sharp social media networks, further pushed this equation.
This AAP-versus-BJP clash is not confined to Punjab. AAP's social media accounts are taking it outside Punjab while targeting BJP. AAP supremo
Arvind Kejriwal
appears to be aggressively expanding the party's base in other states and projecting himself as an alternative on the opposition.
He has been specifically focusing on Gujarat, where around a fortnight ago, he alleged a 'hidden romance' between Congress and BJP, and announced that his party had no alliance with Congress and that the INDIA bloc was for Lok Sabha polls only.
AAP has also announced plans to contest alone in Bihar, and it appears to be getting aggressive in Uttar Pradesh too. On Sunday, AAP Punjab's X handle shared a poster titled 'BJP's G – connection'. It further mentioned: 'G-Gujarat, G-Gangster'. The poster had PM Narendra Modi's picture on it.
AAP's national X handle reposted this acerbic poster, specifically targeting the PM and BJP in Gujarat.
AAP had launched a no-holds-barred attack on BJP earlier last week, alleging that the Abohar-based businessman was killed on the orders of gangster Lawrence Bishnoi, who was being kept in a Gujarat jail.
AAP Punjab president Aman Arora and finance minister Harpal Cheem have been taking on the BJP the most.
BJP also pushed the 'fake encounter' line
In the sequence of events, Delhi minister Manjinder Singh Sirsa attacked AAP for a "staged encounter" after two suspects arrested in connection with Verma's murder were killed in "cross firing" while in police custody. He said gangsters flourished under AAP rule and now Punjab had been turned into a police state with fake encounters. Sirsa, who earlier warned police officials that he would follow the issue of the "fake encounter", told TOI on Sunday that he was exploring the option of moving the court to get a CBI enquiry ordered in the 'fake encounter' case.
"Their story is childish and full of holes," he said. MSID:: 122420452 413 |
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Indian Express
6 minutes ago
- Indian Express
Local govt dept writes to Mohali Commissioner, seeks action report on boundary expansion
In the long-pending issue of boundary expansion of Mohali, the Punjab government's Department of Local Government has issued a letter to the Mohali Municipal Commissioner, directing an immediate submission of the action report related to the boundary expansion process. The letter, a copy of which was shared to The Indian Express, comes a week after Mohali Deputy Mayor Kuljit Singh Bedi warned the Punjab government that if a decision to expand the boundaries is not taken within a month, he will approach the high court. The proposal for expanding the municipal limits was approved nearly four years ago during the Congress government. Notably, even then, Amarjit Singh Jeeti Sidhu was serving as the Mayor of the city. Areas such as Balongi, Baliyari, Badh Majra, TDI City, Sectors 90, 91, 82 and others were proposed to be brought under the Municipal Corporation's (MC's) jurisdiction. However, the process came to a halt following the Aam Aadmi Party's rise to power in 2022. The delay prompted social activist Ram Kumar to file a civil writ petition in the Punjab and Haryana High Court. The high court had directed the Punjab government to take a final decision by May 25. Although the government submitted an affidavit in the court, no concrete steps have been taken so far. In his letter dated May 26, he expressed displeasure over the government's inaction, stating that 'despite repeated correspondence and sufficient passage of time, no action has been taken'. He warned that he would move court with a contempt of court petition and even consider filing a defamation suit against the department. Taking note of the seriousness, the department has now instructed the Municipal Commissioner to urgently submit a report. The letter specifically refers to the legal notice issued by Ram Kumar and emphasises that since the matter is sub-judice, the report must be sent without delay. Speaking to The Indian Express, social activist Ram Kumar said, 'I have continuously attached copies of High Court orders with my representations, but the government has remained silent. Now I am left with no option but to file for defamation'. When contacted, Mohali Municipal Commissioner Parminder Pal Singh confirmed awareness of the matter. 'This issue is under active consideration, and we will be responding to the department's letter very soon,' he stated.
NDTV
7 minutes ago
- NDTV
AAP Vs BJP After Bishnoi Gang Claims Responsibility For Abohar Murder
Chandigarh: Punjab's ruling Aam Aadmi Party and the opposition BJP are at loggerheads over the law and order situation, with gangsters like Lawrence Bishnoi and Jaggu Bhagwanpuria operating with impunity in the state. Today, the BJP's Union Minister Ravneet Bittu questioned why Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann is not seeking custody of the gangsters involved in crimes in the state. Mr Bittu claimed that he would request Bhagwant Mann to get custody of Lawrence Bishnoi, Jaggu Bhagwanpuria and other criminals. The Lawrence Bishnoi issue has sparked a political storm in Punjab since the murder of Abohar-based businessman Sanjay Verma on July 7. A co-owner of the 'New Wear Well Gents Tailor' showroom, Sanjay Verma was gunned down by three assailants in broad daylight near a commercial area in Abohar. While the state's opposition parties had attacked the AAP government, alleging that the law and order had "collapsed", the mood turned soon. AAP started pointing fingers at the BJP when the Lawrence Bishnoi group took responsibility for the crime. State finance minister Harpal Cheema alleged that the BJP has been "protecting" Lawrence Bishnoi. The gangster has been in Sabarmati Jail in Gujarat - a state the BJP has been ruling for the last 30 years - since 2014. "We have taken action in the Abhor murder case... It is sad that he is targeting Punjab sitting in Gujarat," Mr Cheema had told reporters. "Why he (Bishnoi) has been given the protection and why has he been kept in jail? Who took Lawrence Bishnoi to Gujarat and why is he being safeguarded there? The BJP seems to be protecting him so that he can be used to create unrest in states ruled by opposition parties," Mr Cheema had alleged. "In states where the BJP is not in power, they are using criminals and gangsters to disturb peace. This is a dangerous conspiracy against the nation's federal structure and law and order," he added.
The Hindu
18 minutes ago
- The Hindu
Congress urges State unit to launch protest against SIR in Bihar
The Congress leadership on Monday (July 14, 2025) asked its Bihar unit to launch mass protests against the special intensive revision (SIR) of the electoral rolls in the State before the Assembly elections. The meeting, presided by Congress chief Mallikarjun Kharge, was attended by Rahul Gandhi, general secretary (organisation) K.C. Venugopal apart from State leaders, including Pradesh Congress Committee (PCC) chief Rajesh Kumar. Independent Lok Sabha member from Purnia, Pappu Yadav, was also part of the meeting. Mr. Pappu Yadav' presence at the AICC meeting seeks to make a political point as he was not allowed to share stage along with Mr. Gandhi and Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) leader Tejashwi Yadav's joint protests against the SIR in Patna on July 9. The differences between the Purnia Lok Sabha member and the RJD leadership are well known. After the meeting, Mr. Pappu Yadav refused to acknowledge Mr. Tejashwi Yadav as the sole chief ministerial face of the RJD-Congress alliance in the State. The PCC chief, however, played down the differences. 'There is no confusion within our alliance on any issue,' Mr. Kumar said, adding, 'All the leaders of the INDIA alliance said in one voice that we should constitute the campaigning, manifesto committee as soon as possible'.
