Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) workers in Chandigarh staged a protest on Thursday against Chandigarh BJP president Jatinder Pal Malhotra over his alleged remarks about the Punjabi community during a sports event. The protest, led by Chandigarh AAP president Vijay Pal Singh and several councillors, took place at Sector 34.
Protest Details
A large number of party workers gathered at the site, but police blocked their march towards the BJP office by erecting barricades. The protesters raised slogans against Malhotra and demanded his immediate resignation. They also burnt an effigy of the BJP leader.
Vijay Pal Singh condemned the remarks, calling them derogatory and insulting to the Punjabi community. He emphasized that Punjabis have made immense contributions to national security, agriculture, industry, and nation-building. Such statements, he said, are unacceptable under any circumstances.
Councillors and Leaders Present
Among those present at the protest were councillors Hardeep Singh, Kuldeep Singh, Yogesh Dhingra, and leaders Vikrant A Tanwar and Sunny Aulakh. They unitedly demanded Malhotra's resignation.
Malhotra's Denial
In response, Jatinder Pal Malhotra denied making any such statement. He claimed that his words were twisted and misrepresented in an attempt to mislead the public. Malhotra clarified that he himself belongs to Punjab and holds immense respect for the state and its people. He stated that the video circulated by the opposition does not reflect the full context of his remarks.
The incident has sparked a political row in Chandigarh, with AAP accusing the BJP of disrespecting the Punjabi community, while the BJP maintains that the controversy is based on a misinterpretation.
