The Punjab Police has reportedly withdrawn the security cover of Rajya Sabha MP Harbhajan Singh, according to sources. Singh is among the seven lawmakers who recently switched from the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) to the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), alongside Raghav Chadha.
Security Withdrawal Details
According to sources, the police security cover, which included 9 to 10 personnel, was withdrawn on Saturday. The Punjab Police had earlier deployed security at the former cricketer's residence in the Chhotti Baradari locality of Jalandhar, as reported by news agency PTI. On Sunday, however, Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) personnel were seen stationed outside Singh's residence.
Protests by AAP Workers
AAP workers staged protests on Saturday outside the residences of Singh, Ashok Mittal, and Rajinder Gupta in Ludhiana and Jalandhar. Protesters spray-painted the word 'Gaddar' (traitor) on the boundary walls of their homes.
Political Shift and Reactions
On Friday, AAP Rajya Sabha members Raghav Chadha and Sandeep Pathak announced their exit from the party and joined the BJP along with five other MPs: Mittal, Singh, Gupta, Swati Maliwal, and Vikramjit Sahney. Chadha alleged that the Arvind Kejriwal-led party had strayed from its principles, values, and core morals, which is why he was joining the BJP. He said the seven had merged with the BJP as a faction.
In the immediate aftermath of the exodus, Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann dubbed the seven leaders 'gaddars'. Mann alleged that the BJP was trying to break the AAP and had 'betrayed the people of Punjab'.
