By Satnam Singh Chahal
The suspension of Amritsar North MLA Kunwar Vijay Pratap Singh by the Punjabi diaspora, who termed it as an attempt to "shut the voice of Punjab." Punjabi diaspora is expressing concern over the party’s decision to sideline a man whose honesty in AAP’s 2022 election campaign won 92 seats out of 117 seats in the Punjab Assembly in Punjab.
During the Punjab Assembly elections, AAP proudly projected Kunwar Vijay Pratap Singh, a former IPS officer known for his honesty and fearless image, as a model of clean politics. The party extensively used his image and past credentials, particularly his role in the Bargari sacrilege investigation, to convince voters that they were bringing in a new era of transparency. The campaign resonated widely and helped AAP secure a massive victory, winning 92 out of 117 seats.
However, the relationship soured over time as Singh began openly criticising the AAP-led state government for what he described as misuse of power and failure to uphold principles of justice. His vocal opposition to various actions of the Bhagwant Mann government, including its handling of sensitive criminal cases, did not sit well with the party leadership. As a result, he was suspended from the party for five years — a move that Chahal said reflects political intolerance and authoritarian behavior.
Recently, Singh stood against the government over the treatment of Shiromani Akali Dal leader Bikram Singh Majithia. Sharing a video of a Vigilance Bureau (VB) raid on Majithia’s residence, Singh highlighted the distress caused to Majithia’s wife, MLA Ganieve Kaur, as VB officials barged into their home. Singh stated that such actions, conducted without immediate cause or interrogation, violate ethical norms and dignity. He further pointed out that despite Majithia’s jail time during the Congress government, the Mann-led government never pursued any active investigation or remand, indirectly facilitating his bail — raising questions on the sincerity of their intentions.
Singh emphasized that although he holds ideological differences with Majithia, integrity and ethics are universal values that must be protected regardless of political affiliations. “Raiding a family home in the early hours without just cause not only violates human decency but also reflects poorly on the state’s governance, ” he said.
Singh has consistently challenged the state leadership on multiple fronts. He has been critical of the government’s failure to deliver justice in the 2015 Bargari police firing case and condemned the arrest of AAP MLA Raman Arora in a corruption case, which he suspects to be politically influenced. He also questioned the inaction of the government after the tragic death of 27 people due to spurious liquor consumption in the Majitha subdivision.
Now every person in Punjab is condemning the AAP for using Kunwar Vijay Pratap Singh’s clean image during their rise to power, only to discard him when he chose to stand by truth and principles. “This is not just about one leader being punished — this is about silencing voices of dissent and betraying the very ethics that AAP once claimed to uphold.