Chandigarh: A fresh political controversy has surfaced in Chandigarh after the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) announced plans to stage a demonstration against BJP state president Jitender Pal Malhotra over his alleged comments about Punjabis. The party has called upon its leaders and supporters to gather in Sector 34 before marching towards the BJP office to register their protest.
AAP leaders have accused Malhotra of making a statement that insulted the Punjabi community and claimed the remarks have deeply hurt public sentiment. The party asserted that any attempt to undermine the dignity and identity of Punjabis would be strongly opposed and demanded accountability from the BJP leadership.
As the issue gained momentum, Malhotra issued a clarification, expressing regret over the controversy and maintaining that his comments had been taken out of context. According to him, the statement was delivered during a sports-related event nearly three weeks ago in the spirit of self-reflection and was later selectively edited to create a misleading narrative. He alleged that portions of the speech were deliberately circulated for political purposes.
The controversy has also sparked reactions within the BJP. District Vice President Kuljit Singh Sandhu criticized the alleged remark, saying it was inconsistent with the sentiments of Punjabis and the rural community. He argued that such statements could alienate farmers and residents of Punjab and called for intervention from the party’s central leadership.
With a large turnout expected for the protest, security has been heightened around the BJP office and surrounding areas. Police personnel have been deployed to maintain law and order as political tensions continue to escalate over the issue.
The episode has once again highlighted how public remarks by political leaders can quickly become flashpoints, triggering debate not only between rival parties but also within their own ranks.
