Chandigarh, Oct 23: Punjab’s ruling party leadership voiced deep outrage against central authorities, with AAP MLA Kuldeep Singh Dhaliwal condemning what he termed systemic discrimination against Punjabis, Sikh culture, and state leadership. Dhaliwal emphasized that the community, which historically contributed the highest number of sacrifices during India’s freedom struggle and continues to feed the nation, deserves national respect rather than humiliation.
The MLA drew attention to multiple recent friction points, beginning with an alleged public slight directed at veteran singer Daler Mehndi by a BJP minister during an event in Uttarakhand. Expanding on cultural grievances, Dhaliwal criticized the denial of necessary permissions for Diljit Dosanjh’s scheduled performance in the national capital, noting that denying a Punjabi artist space in a city heavily populated by proud Punjabi communities is deeply disappointing.
Concluding his address, Dhaliwal targeted the federal handling of Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann at Delhi airport following an official trip to France. He argued that checking baggage weight upon arrival in Delhi rather than at the point of origin in Europe was an intentional effort to harass an outspoken regional leader. Dhaliwal appealed to the global Punjabi diaspora to take note of these actions and urged the central leadership to alter its approach immediately.
