Ludhiana: Tensions between Punjab’s leading political factions boiled over on Thursday as Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) loyalists descended on the mini-secretariat, using drums and brass bands to drown out “personal rhetoric” from the Congress party.The high-decibel protest was sparked by allegedly “derogatory and inappropriate” language used by senior Congress member Partap Singh Bajwa, state’s leader of the oppositon, against Punjab minister Harbhajan Singh ETO, whose father was a band leader.
In an unconventional display of political theatre, AAP lawmakers and workers marched through the streets with a drum procession. The demonstration moved eventually to the doorstep of Ludhiana Congress MP Amrinder Singh Raja Warring’s office. “We will continue to protest until the Congress leader offers a formal apology,” said MLA Kulwant Singh Sidhu, who was seen beating a drum alongside minister Hardeep Singh Mundian to emphasise the party’s grievance.Allegations of ‘Vulgar Politics’The protest saw a massive turnout of the AAP leadership, including five MLAs and the city’s top municipal officials. Addressing the crowd, speakers accused the Congress party of abandoning civil discourse to compensate for a “declining political base”. Alleging diversion tactics, AAP claimed the rhetoric was a deliberate attempt to distract from the its “transparent governance”. The party characterised Bajwa’s comments as “vulgar” and “personal”, rather than policy-based.Protesters warned of an “intensified agitation” across the state if an apology is not forthcoming. The rally served as a show of force for the ruling party, bringing together various district wings. Notable attendees included minister Hardeep Singh Mundian, MLAs Kulwant Singh Sidhu, Madan Lal Bagga, Daljit Singh Bhola, and Sarbjit Kaur Manuke, besides mayor Inderjit Kaur and senior deputy mayor Rakesh Parashar.The leaders concluded the demonstration by asserting that “negative and personal politics” would be countered by their focus on pro-people governance. As of Thursday evening, the Congress leadership had not issued a formal response to the demands for an apology.
