Resentment also spreads to Punjabi diaspora in Canada
CHANDIGARH: Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann is facing sharp criticism and protests from opposition parties, social and farmer organisation for alleged vendetta politics. The anger against the AAP government was brewing up for quite some time, especialy among the youngesters. It may dent the image of Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) which came to power with the branding of "a party with the difference".
The recent arrest of a youtuber and social activist Bhana Sidhu (Baljinder Singh Sidhu) has became the boiling point for protests erupted against the Chief Minister. Besides leaders of all opposition political parties, the farmer organisations have came forward to protest against the arrest of Bhana Sidhu, in alleged false cases. Punjabi diaspora in Canada has also raised voices of dissent against AAP government during live programmes on local TV channels.
Bhana Sidhu
33 year old Bhana Sidhu is a youtuber and entertainer who worked in some Punjabi movies. Sidhu an associate of gangster turned politician Lakha Sidhana, has huge following on the social media. He often targets policies of Bhagwant Mann and is known for campaign against unscrupulous immigration agents who dupe youth on the pretex of sendign them abroad. His videos of making calls to immigration agents to return the money to their victims went viral on social media in the recent past.
Bhana Sidhu was first arrested by Punjab Police on January 21 in an extortion case for allegedly blackmailing a woman who runs a travel agency in Ludhiana’s Model Town area. She alleged Bhana Sidhu demanded Rs 10, 000 from her. After he got bail from the court in this case, he was again arrested on Jabuary 28 in a chain snatching case registered by Patiala Police.
Patiala Sadar police had booked Sidhu under several charges, including theft, after Patiala resident Tejpreet complained to the police that on December 21, 2023, when he was returning to Patiala, some individuals in a car attacked him and snatched his gold chain. The complainant named Bhana Sidhu by name.
Yet another case of extortion was registered at Abohar City 1 police station in Fazilka district on a complaint by Rohit Bhateja, head of Abohar branch of immigration and English speaking center Charlie’s School of English. The case was registered on night of January 2 when he was in jail in sntaching case. Alongwith Bhana, the victim Arashdeep Singh and his father were also booked. Sidhu was not yet registered in this case.
Punjab Congress party leaders who were till few days back were up in the arms against arrest of Congress MLA Sukhpal Singh Khaira in an old drug case and another follow up case have now turned guns on Bhagwant Mann for harrassing Bhana Sidhu. Former CM Charanjit Singh Channi, CLP leader Partap Singh Bajwa, SAD leader and MP Prem Singh Chandumajra attacked Bhagwant Mann for indulging in the vendetta politics. Bajwa slammed AAP government and accused it of strangulating voices of dissent. Lakha Sidhu who calls himself mentor of Bhana Sidhu claims both cases registered against the former are fake.
Big protest rally at Sidhu Bhana's village
Lakha Sidhana on Monday organised a mass protest rally at Sidhu's naive village Kotdune in Barnala district in support of Lakha Sidhu. Congress MLA Sukhpal Khaira, SAD(Amritsar) president Simranjit Singh Mann and leaders of Bharti Kisan Union also joined the protest rally. The farmer bodies had earlier on Saturday blocked toll plazas for three hours to show solidarity with Sidhu.
Lakha Sidhana on Monday organised a mass protest rally at Sidhu's naive village Kotdune in Barnala district in support of Lakha Sidhu. Congress MLA Sukhpal Khaira, SAD(Amritsar) president Simranjit Singh Mann and leaders of Bharti Kisan Union also joined the protest rally. The farmer bodies had earlier on Saturday blocked toll plazas for three hours to show solidarity with Sidhu.
This is not first time that social activists are made targets. In Deember, 2023 social and farmer organisations had came out in support of Parminder Singh Jhota who is fighting against drug peddlers in his area. Cases registered agaonst farmer leader Manjit Singh Dhaner and others who are fighting to protect Kulrian abadkaar farmers also witnessed protests. Cases are also registered against Rajinder Pal state president of Inqulab center and BKU Ekta district president Waheguru Singh who is fighting against illgal acitivites of colonisers fleecing the home buyers.
The voices of opposition of vendeta politics are also coming from inside the AAP party. AAP MLA and former IGP Kunwar Vijay Partap Singh ina recent interview said that he registered his protest against vendata politics. He said he had also opposed registration of cases by Punjab Police against former AAP leader and poet Kumar Vishwas and former AAP leader, now in Congress Alka Lamba. Case against Kumar Vishwas and Alka Lamba was dismissed by Punjab and Haryana court. He said that vendetta is not in the ideology of AAP.
BJP leader Tejinderpal Singh Bagga was arrested from his home in Delhi and a scuffle broke out between raiding party of Punjab police and Delhi Police. The Delhi police arrested the police officials on way from Delhi to Punjab accompanying Bagga. He also got relief from the High Court.
The protests may be sponsored by opposition parties and critics of Bhagwant Mann but allegations of opposition are damaging for AAP in the run UP for Lok Sabha polls.