Chandigarh, Feb 9: The streets of Chandigarh and Qadian saw massive demonstrations on Sunday as AAP leadership organized a multi-city protest against Leader of Opposition Partap Singh Bajwa. The “band-baja” protest, which involved a symbolic musical retort outside Bajwa’s Sector 8 residence, focused on the dignity of labor and the representation of Dalit communities in Punjab’s political sphere. As the situation grew heated, police personnel used water cannons to push back workers who attempted to breach the security perimeter, leading to multiple detentions.
Cabinet Minister Harbhajan Singh ETO, the primary target of the alleged remarks, shared a poignant account of his personal struggle and his father’s legacy. He mentioned that his father was a hardworking band master whose honest earnings paved the way for his children’s success. The Minister noted that he is currently pursuing a PhD and is dedicated to producing more high-achieving individuals from every household in his constituency through an ongoing education revolution.
“We have worked hard and have not done smuggling or gold biscuit trafficking,” Minister ETO directly said. He noted that the opposition’s language reflects a desire to keep power confined to a few families, while his own goal is to eliminate the gap between the children of the poor and the rich.
Finance Minister Harpal Singh Cheema noted that the arrival of 92 AAP legislators in 2022 signaled the end of family-based politics in the state. He mentioned that the opposition’s habit of referring to ministers as “material” is an insult to the democratic process and the voters themselves. He mentioned that the party has issued a 24-hour ultimatum for a public apology, failing which further legal steps will be considered.
Health Minister Dr. Balbir Singh and MLA Inderjit Kaur also noted that the insulting words spoken against the Minister were an affront to the entire working-class community of Punjab. They mentioned that the public will not forget these remarks and will respond appropriately in the next assembly elections.
“Congress is afraid of this very change because they know that once poor children get educated, their politics will collapse,” Minister ETO directly said during the final moments of the protest. He noted that AAP workers would continue to hold the opposition accountable across the state until a formal apology is issued for the remarks made against the community’s heritage.
