On Sunday, karyakartas and leaders of the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) welcomed Haryana Chief Minister Nayab Singh Saini with black flags in Ludhiana. As Nayab Saini, who had come to attend the “Purvanchal Samman Rally,” descended from the Dhuri Line Railway Overbridge, AAP karyakartas raised slogans against him and waved black flags to protest what they described as the BJP’s discriminatory policies towards Punjab.
Leading the protest, AAP MLA from Atam Nagar Kulwant Singh Sidhu told the media, “We are protesting today because the BJP has always adopted an anti-Punjab stance. Sitting at the Centre, they withhold funds meant for Punjab’s health, education, and development, and then come here to mislead the people.
The people of Punjab are not naive; they know BJP's true face very well.” On the occasion, AAP Lok Sabha Incharge Sharanpal Singh Makkar also addressed the protesters. He said, “The people of Punjab are well aware of the BJP’s propaganda.
Today’s protest sends a clear message to the BJP and its leaders that they cannot come to Punjab and try to cover up their anti-farmer, anti-trader, and anti-Punjab policies. You have the right to campaign, but do not mislead people by raising false questions about Punjab’s law and order situation.”
During the protest, AAP District President (Ludhiana Urban) Jatinder Khangura countered the BJP by presenting figures. He said, “Before lecturing Punjab, the Haryana Chief Minister should look at the condition of his own state.
According to reports of central agencies, Punjab ranks second in the country in maintaining law and order, while Haryana recorded more than 1,000 murders in 2023 and more than 900 in 2024. Incidents of atrocities against women and Dalits are also significantly higher there.
The burden of debt on Punjab’s farmers increased when the BJP was in power here. False statements cannot change the facts.” AAP leaders said that instead of seeking political gains in Punjab, the Haryana government should focus on resolving the serious issues within its own state.
Apart from CM Nayab Singh Saini, senior Punjab BJP leaders were also present at this event, but the strong protest by AAP volunteers outside overshadowed their political gathering.