A political controversy has erupted in Punjab after a heated confrontation between Union Minister of State Ravneet Singh Bittu and police officials during the municipal elections, with the Aam Aadmi Party, Congress, and BJP trading sharp allegations over the incident.
Addressing a press conference, AAP leaders accused Bittu of misbehaving with police personnel and using derogatory language against officers during the polling process in Dhuri. The ruling party alleged that the Union Minister referred to police officials as “dalla” and “dalal” and behaved in an aggressive manner with officers deployed on election duty.
AAP leader Baltej Pannu claimed that the civic polls across Punjab were conducted peacefully, but certain political groups allegedly attempted to disturb the atmosphere. He alleged that Bittu, who is neither a resident nor a voter of Dhuri, violated election norms by remaining in the area after campaigning had ended.
Pannu further alleged that Bittu used objectionable language against a woman police officer and attempted to intimidate police officials. He also accused the Union Minister of grabbing the collar of a Sikh police officer during the confrontation. Defending Punjab Police, the AAP leader said the force had earned a reputation for professionalism and bravery and had played a major role in combating terrorism and drug-related crime in the state.
The ruling party demanded an unconditional apology from Bittu, stating that insulting police personnel and senior officers was unacceptable. AAP leaders also claimed that Punjab Police had one of the strongest records in the country in terms of drug seizures and law enforcement action.
Meanwhile, Congress also criticised the incident and accused the BJP leader of taking the law into his own hands. In a post on social media platform X, the party alleged that police personnel acted like “goons” under the protection of the state government, but added that it was equally shameful for Bittu to allegedly grab a police employee by the neck and beard during the altercation.
The BJP, however, defended the Union Minister and questioned the conduct of the Punjab Police. The party said that Bittu, being a Z+ security protectee, was entitled to strict security protocols and alleged that the administration failed to follow mandatory procedures. BJP leaders termed the incident a serious lapse in security management in a sensitive border state like Punjab.
During the confrontation, Bittu accused the police and the Punjab government of deliberately stopping him and BJP workers despite the polling having concluded. He alleged that police personnel manhandled him and twisted his arm, claiming several officers assaulted him during the standoff. He further alleged that civilians and BJP workers were being unfairly stopped on roads while criminals and drug traffickers operated freely.
The Union Minister also accused the Punjab government of using police machinery for political purposes and compared the situation in Punjab to incidents of political violence in West Bengal. Referring to the detention of BJP leader Onkar Singh, Bittu said he and his supporters would not leave without securing his release.
In a fresh attack on AAP leaders, Bittu accused Punjab minister Aman Arora of targeting his family and making personal allegations. He said political opponents should refrain from dragging family members into political disputes. Bittu also levelled counter-allegations against Aman Arora regarding pending legal matters and family disputes.
The clash has intensified political tensions in Punjab following the civic polls, with all major parties accusing each other of misusing power, violating democratic norms and attempting to influence the election atmosphere.