Ruling AAP on Friday held protests across the state against senior Congress leader Partap Singh Bajwa over his alleged casteist remarks against Punjab minister Harbhajan Singh ETO.
The protests were held in Malerkotla, Ropar, Kapurthala, Amritsar, Pathankot, Tarn Taran, Faridkot, Fatehgarh Sahib, Ludhiana, Moga, Patiala, Sangrur and Bathinda. In a controversial video statement, Bajwa is allegedly heard calling Minister Harbhajan Singh ETO a “band player”. Bajwa, who is also the Leader of the Opposition in the state Assembly, has rejected the allegations.
Commenting on the row, Punjab AAP general secretary Baltej Pannu said Bajwa’s remarks against Harbhajan Singh ETO were not merely an insult to a minister but “an attack on the entire Dalit community”.
“The anti-Dalit mindset of the Congress has once again been exposed. AAP will not allow anyone to demean Dalits or insult the dignity of working-class people,” he added. He alleged that Bajwa’s language reflected the Congress’ “deep-rooted hatred” towards the Dalits.
“While AAP believes in governance and public welfare, Congress leaders like Bajwa remain trapped in a feudal and casteist mentality that Punjab has repeatedly rejected,” the leader said.
He also asked the Congress leadership if Bajwa’s casteist language reflected the official thinking of the Congress.
“Does the Congress stand with Bajwa’s derogatory remarks? Will the Congress president and senior leaders publicly condemn him, or will they once again choose silence, just as they have done whenever Dalits were attacked, ignored or humiliated,” he asked