Strong resentment has erupted across Punjab among Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) karyakartas and the general public after Rajya Sabha MPs Harbhajan Singh, Ashok Mittal, and Rajinder Gupta aligned with the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), with protests and slogans branding them as “Gaddar” surfacing at their residences and even at Lovely Professional University, reflecting the scale of public anger.
In several places, protesters raised slogans of “Punjab de Gaddar,” signalling deep public outrage and a sense of betrayal among the people. Many citizens have also expressed disappointment over what they described as a betrayal of Punjab’s mandate, with some even stating that they will refrain from enrolling their children in LPU as a mark of protest.
In Jalandhar, senior AAP leader Pawan Kumar Tinu said, “The AAP government will return to power in Punjab in 2027, and the BJP will have no political ground left to stand on. Out of frustration, the BJP has resorted to poaching AAP’s Rajya Sabha MPs by hook and crook.
The Congress, BJP, and Akali Dal have formed an unholy alliance against AAP, which is why their leaders are making similar statements about AAP MLAs defecting to the BJP.” Meanwhile, AAP Punjab Youth Wing Acting President Parminder Goldy led a protest outside the residence of Rajinder Gupta, where party karyakartas raised slogans of “Punjab de Gaddar murdabad.”
He said, “The people of Punjab will never forgive this betrayal of trust. The BJP is deeply unsettled by Arvind Kejriwal’s politics of development and governance and is attempting to destabilize AAP through conspiracies. However, these efforts will fail because every AAP worker stands firmly with the party leadership and its vision.”
AAP leaders reiterated that the party remains united and committed to serving the people of Punjab, asserting that those who betray the trust of Punjab will ultimately be held accountable by its people.