50 grenades remark': AAP ups ante, tells Congress's Partap Bajwa to give proof or face more heat

MOHALI: In a show of dissent, the Aam Aadmi Party held a huge protest in Mohali on Tuesday against senior Congress leader and leader of opposition in Punjab assembly Partap Singh Bajwa, accusing him of fear mongering and making irresponsible and inflammatory statements that "threaten to disturb" Punjab's hard-earned peace.
Led by AAP Punjab president and minister Aman Arora, the protest witnessed participation from several ministers, MLAs, and party volunteers. Ministers Dr Ravjot Singh and Dr Balbir Singh joined Arora on the frontlines, condemning Bajwa's recent claim that 50 grenades had allegedly been smuggled into the state.
"Bajwa's baseless claims are nothing short of fear mongering," said Arora while addressing the gathering. "If he truly possesses credible information, he must share it with the Punjab Police. Otherwise, he must publicly apologise for misleading the people and attempting to create panic," he added.
Arora also gave Bajwa an ultimatum: "Either substantiate your statement with evidence and submit it to the authorities or issue an apology for false claims and shockvertising."
If Bajwa cooperates and the claim holds merit, the case against him will be withdrawn immediately. However, failing to do so will warrant further protests and public accountability, said Arora.
Questioning Bajwa's motives, the AAP leader said: "By refusing to cooperate with the police, Bajwa is raising serious concerns about his credibility. Such actions erode public trust in Punjab's intelligence apparatus and serve the interests of those seeking to destabilise the state."
Echoing the sentiment, AAP chairperson Harchand Singh Barsat termed Bajwa's remarks a "conspiracy by Congress" to disrupt Punjab's progress under the AAP rule. "The Congress cannot digest the achievements of the AAP govt and is resorting to fear tactics to create unrest," he alleged.
Highlighting the AAP's performance in tackling crime and corruption, ministers Ravjot Singh and Dr Balbir Singh pointed out that the present govt had made major strides in fighting drugs, corruption, and organised crime — issues that were neglected by previous administrations led by the Congress, the BJP, and the Akali Dal.
"If Bajwa fails to apologise or share evidence with law enforcement, our protest will escalate. We are prepared to march to his residence," warned Arora.
MLAs Jaswant Singh Gajjanmajra and Kulwant Singh, AAP Punjab general secretary Jagroop Singh Sekhwan, and party leaders, including Ranjot Hadana, Amandeep Singh Mohie, Neel Garg, Govindar Mittal, Vineet Verma, Parminder Goldy, Prabhjot Kaur, Karamjit Kaur, and Vicky Ghannaur, along with hundreds of AAP volunteers were part of the protest.
The AAP also affirmed its commitment to maintaining peace in Punjab and appealed to all political parties to refrain from destabilising rhetoric. "Punjab has endured enough turmoil. We won't let anyone endanger the harmony we've rebuilt," Arora concluded.
Senior SAD leader Daljit Singh Cheema, however, ridiculed Arora for staging a dharna outside a police station demanding action against Bajwa.
Cheema said if the ministers had to resort to protests against their own police force, it raised serious questions about governance. "In a state where ministers stage protest against their own administration, what hope does the common man have for justice?" Cheema asked.
"If the govt has to act out such dramas even after registering cases themselves, it's a clear sign of administrative failure. In such a situation, the entire cabinet should consider stepping down," he added.