Pratap Singh Bajwa, Punjab’s Leader of the Opposition, claimed that over 32 MLAs from the ruling Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) are in contact with him, signaling potential government instability. He emphasized that the Congress party will not be responsible for the government’s downfall, suggesting the BJP would be. Bajwa criticized AAP for alleged corruption, including significant illicit financial transfers related to liquor and land use. In response, AAP accused Bajwa of planning a shift to the BJP. The AAP government is currently facing increased pressure following its poor performance in Delhi and has launched a significant anti-corruption initiative, dismissing numerous police officers for misconduct.
Chandigarh:
Pratap Singh Bajwa, the Leader of the Opposition from Congress in Punjab, has claimed that “more than 32” MLAs from the ruling Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) are communicating with him, suggesting that some may also be in contact with the BJP. This signals a potential collapse of the Bhagwant Mann government.
He emphasized, however, that the Congress party will not be the one to topple the government. “It will be the BJP who will do that,” he remarked.
He also stated, “It’s not just MLAs; there are ministers and other prominent leaders involved… But we have made it very clear that Congress will not destabilize this government under any circumstances. It is the BJP who will initiate that,” he told NDTV in an exclusive interview.
Bajwa expressed that Congress wishes for the AAP government to complete a full five-year term so that the public can witness the nature of the government they elected.
The Congress leader alleged that AAP members are disgruntled over the fact that thousands of crores of rupees have reportedly been funneled to Australia and other regions via hawala channels during their governance. According to him, this stemmed from the liquor trade and land use changes.
He accused, “The Delhi model is designed to bring in experts in corruption.”
The AAP responded by alleging that Mr. Bajwa is in the process of switching to the BJP.
AAP leader Neel Garg claimed, “Pratap Bajwa has already secured a ticket with the BJP. He met with senior BJP leaders in Bengaluru.” He further added, “Rahul Gandhi should keep an eye on Pratap Bajwa.”
Since AAP’s significant defeat in Delhi earlier this month, the Bhagwant Mann government has faced considerable pressure from the Opposition.
In response, the Punjab government has launched an extensive anti-corruption initiative—one of its pre-election commitments—leading to the dismissal of 52 police personnel, including constables and inspectors, on corruption allegations. Notably, Varinder Kumar, a 1993 batch IPS officer, was removed from his role as chief director of the Vigilance Bureau and instructed to report to the police chief.
Additionally, Rajesh Tripathi, the Deputy Commissioner of Sri Muktsar Sahib and a 2016 batch IAS officer, has been suspended, with an inquiry by the Vigilance Department initiated against him.