Ludhiana, Sept 19: BJP leader and former Union Minister Ravneet Singh Bittu was detained by Punjab Police on Saturday after he staged a protest near the Punjab Agricultural University (PAU) gate as Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann’s cavalcade passed through the area.
Mann was visiting the university grounds to attend the ongoing Kisan Mela when the protest took place, according to a press release.
During the demonstration, Bittu held up a bottle of liquor towards the Chief Minister’s vehicle, saying he was “returning the bottle” and making remarks about AAP national convenor Arvind Kejriwal.
The protest came a day after Bittu alleged that his convoy was attacked near Batala while he was travelling as part of the BJP’s ‘Nasha Mukt Punjab Yatra’. He claimed that eggs and tomatoes were thrown at vehicles in his cavalcade and that some vehicles were damaged.
According to the BJP leader’s statement, he also returned the eggs and tomatoes during Saturday’s protest.
Speaking after the demonstration, Bittu said that if AAP workers could protest against BJP leaders and programmes, BJP workers would also exercise their “democratic right” to protest against the Punjab Government and its leaders.
Bittu further said the BJP would continue to raise issues concerning Punjab and organise peaceful protests outside the Chief Minister’s programmes and offices whenever required.
Punjab Police subsequently detained Bittu, according to the press release.
Bittu Alleges Attack on Convoy Near Batala
On Friday, Bittu had alleged that his convoy was attacked while he was travelling to participate in the BJP’s anti-drug campaign in Pathankot.
He accused AAP workers of surrounding his convoy, threatening members of his group and damaging vehicle windows. Bittu also alleged that some protesters were carrying weapons.
“There was an attack on me. AAP has become a gangster party,” Bittu had alleged while speaking to reporters. He further claimed that police personnel were present at the spot but failed to prevent the incident.
Bittu alleged that protesters attacked his convoy after police had slowed it down and claimed that another confrontation took place later. He also said one person, whom he identified as Anmol Randhawa, was caught by members of his group.
Bittu said he was seeking registration of an FIR and had been waiting for the SSP since around 9 am.
The BJP’s ‘Nasha Mukt Punjab Yatra’ was launched across the state as part of the party’s campaign against drug abuse.
Punjab BJP Mahila Morcha president Jai Inder Kaur also alleged that the incident was an attempt to divert attention from the party’s anti-drug campaign. She criticised the Punjab Government over what she described as the continuing drug problem and law-and-order concerns in the state.
The allegations made by Bittu and other BJP leaders have not been independently established in the information available.
