Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) president Sukhbir Singh Badal on Sunday stood in solidarity with journalists and Right to Information (RTI) activists at a protest in Chandigarh. The demonstration condemned the Punjab government, led by the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP), for allegedly registering false and fabricated cases against members of the media and transparency advocates.
Protest Against "Injustice" and Intimidation
Addressing the gathering, Badal appealed to all Punjabis to "fight this injustice tooth and nail." He assured that the SAD would extend its complete support to those implicated in what he termed as baseless legal actions. The protest was specifically triggered by the registration of a case against RTI activist Manik Goyal and several social media influencers. Their alleged crime was questioning the use of the state helicopter during Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann's official visit to Japan and Korea.
Badal accused the AAP government of attempting to browbeat and silence critical voices. "The AAP govt thinks it can browbeat Punjabis with these tactics, but it should know that Punjabis have always stood up to injustice and will rise as one against the AAP govt also," he declared. He emphasized that the issue was no longer confined to a few individuals but had "transformed into a people's fight."
Allegations of Misuse of Power and State Resources
The SAD president launched a broadside against the AAP leadership, accusing it of plundering Punjab's resources. He claimed the journalists and activists were targeted because they were exposing this alleged loot masterminded by Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal. Badal revealed that his party had also filed RTI applications to uncover details about the misuse of the state helicopter, but the government consistently denied providing the information.
He made serious allegations of financial misconduct, comparing Kejriwal's rule to the East India Company. "Arvind Kejriwal is looting Punjab like the East India Company by campaigning across the country at the expense of the Punjab govt," Badal alleged. He provided specific details, stating that aeroplanes with 20-seater capacity are regularly booked to ferry Kejriwal to other states, with CM Bhagwant Mann included in the entourage to ensure the Punjab government foots the bill.
Further, he alleged that Punjab government officials are constantly travelling to Delhi to take commands from Kejriwal, and AAP workers have been posted with ministers at government expense.
Exorbitant Ad Spend and Weaponization of Police
Badal presented figures to accuse the government of unprecedented self-promotion. He stated that against an annual budget of Rs 30-35 crore for advertisements during the SAD tenure, the AAP government was spending more than Rs 1,000 crore per year. He claimed the total expenditure under this head had already reached a staggering Rs 4,500 crore, asserting that "never has so much money been spent for self-publicity in the history of the state."
On the mechanism of registering false cases, Badal made a startling claim. He alleged that a retired CBI officer was entrusted with the power to direct the registration of FIRs, including one against senior SAD leader Parambans Singh Romana. This officer, according to Badal, even listed the specific legal sections under which the FIRs were to be registered. Any police officer refusing to comply with these commands was suspended, he added.
Concluding his attack, Badal contrasted his party's approach with that of the AAP. "The SAD always gave due respect to the media. Former chief minister Parkash Singh Badal always stood for freedom of the press," he said. "In stark contrast, the AAP leaders are behaving like thugs by registering cases against anyone who writes against them." The protest marks a significant escalation in the political confrontation between the SAD and the ruling AAP in Punjab.
