CHANDIGARH: The Aam Aadmi Party has once again betrayed the trust and aspirations of Punjab’s youth by appointing non-Punjabi individuals to key positions in the state’s governance. The shocking appointment of Deepak Chauhan, a resident of Uttar Pradesh and personal assistant to AAP leader Dr. Sandeep Pathak (Assistant Professor, IIT Delhi), as Chairman of the Punjab Large Industrial Development Board, is not only deeply offensive but a direct insult to deserving and qualified Punjabi professionals.
Even more disturbing is the appointment of Reena Gupta,
a former adviser to the government of Delhi and AAP spokesperson in Delhi, as Chairperson of the Punjab Pollution Control Board.
These politically motivated selections expose the Kejriwal-led remote control governance being imposed on Punjab. In addition to Reena Gupta and Deepak Chauhan, several other appointments raise grave concerns:
• Kamal Bansal, Chairman, Punjab Teerath Yatra Vikas Board
• Satya Gopal (Retd. IAS), Chairman, RERA Punjab (Real Estate Regulatory Authority)
• Satbir Kaur Bedi, Chairperson, Punjab School Education Board
• Ankit Saxena, Assistant Manager, Punjab Social Media Cell (resident of Allahabad)
All these appointments reflect the continuing pattern of importing outsiders into Punjab’s governance structure, bypassing the state’s own experienced and deserving talent.
The list of those who ate share of resident of Punjab includes:-
• Raghav Chadha, a Delhi based leader nominated as Rajya Sabha MP from Punjab
• Dr. Sandeep Pathak, a Delhi based leader nominated as Rajya Sabha MP from Punjab
• Vibhav Kumar, Arvind Kejriwal’s Personal Assistant now in CMO Punjab
It is now evident that Bhagwant Mann is a Chief Minister only in name — the real decisions are being taken in Delhi by Arvind Kejriwal and his coterie.
This Delhi-centric approach is robbing Punjab of its autonomy and systematically sidelining its talented and capable citizens. Appointing Delhi aides to top posts in Punjab’s key institutions reflects Kejriwal’s larger design to turn Punjab into a satellite colony of Delhi.
This is not governance — this is colonization.
Punjabis are being deprived of their rightful place in their own state, while AAP workers and leaders from other states are being rewarded with plum positions.
It raises a serious question: Are AAP’s Punjab workers and supporters only meant to lay carpets and shout slogans while the real power and positions are distributed in Delhi’s drawing rooms?
The BJP strongly condemns this betrayal of Punjab’s youth and demands immediate reversal of these appointments.
AAP must explain to the people of Punjab:
• Why were no capable industrial professionals from Punjab found fit for the role of Board Chairman?
• What merit did Deepak Chauhan or Reena Gupta bring that outshines every deserving Punjabi applicant?
The people of Punjab will not tolerate such injustice. BJP Punjab stands committed to defending the rights and dignity of Punjabis at every forum.