Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) Punjab MLA Kuldeep Singh Dhaliwal on Thursday strongly condemned the BJP for what he described as its continued hatred towards Punjab and Punjabis, citing the Insult of renowned Punjabi singer Daler Mehndi at an event in Uttarakhand, the cancellation of permissions for Diljit Dosanjh’s Delhi show, and the treatment meted out to Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann at Delhi airport.

Addressing the media, Dhaliwal said the BJP, despite leading the government at the Centre, had repeatedly demonstrated a discriminatory attitude towards Sikhs, Punjabis and minority communities. He said the treatment of prominent Punjabi personalities reflected the party’s narrow and divisive thinking and deserved the strongest condemnation.

Referring to the incident involving Daler Mehndi at a program in Uttarakhand, Dhaliwal said the manner in which a BJP minister insulted the celebrated Punjabi singer was deeply condemnable. He said Daler Mehndi had earned immense love and recognition worldwide, and disrespecting an artist of his stature exposed the BJP’s attitude towards Punjab’s people and culture.

Dhaliwal also raised the issue of Diljit Dosanjh’s scheduled show in Delhi, which was initially planned for November 1. He said the singer had obtained permission for the event but was subsequently asked to change the date because of the historical events associated with November 1 in Delhi. Then for proposed alternative date of October 30, he was denied necessary clearance.

He said Diljit Dosanjh had brought global recognition to Punjab through his music and performances, attracting audiences in large numbers wherever he performed in the world. Preventing such an artist from holding a show in Delhi raised serious questions about the treatment of Punjabi artists, Dhaliwal said.

“Punjabis have a strong presence in Delhi, where they have made significant contributions to business, culture and society. Punjabi is widely spoken in Delhi, and our people have brought pride to the national capital. Denying a Punjabi artist permission to perform, despite his immense popularity, is deeply disappointing,” he said.

Dhaliwal questioned whether Diljit Dosanjh was being treated unfairly because of his Sikh identity and Punjabi background. He said the singer had performed before audiences across the world without facing such restrictions, making the developments in Delhi particularly troubling.

The AAP MLA also condemned the treatment meted to Punjab’s Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann at Delhi airport upon his return from France. He said that the Chief Minister was deliberately humiliated under the pretext of excess baggage.

Dhaliwal questioned the justification for the action, arguing that baggage weight is ordinarily checked at the point of departure and that any excess baggage should have been addressed there in France. He said the manner in which the Chief Minister was treated raised concerns about the Centre’s attitude towards a leader who consistently speaks up for Punjab and its people.

“Bhagwant Mann is among the few Chief Ministers who openly raise state’s issues before the Central government. While many others hesitate to confront the Centre, Mann Sahib and the AAP stand firm in defending Punjab’s rights. The way he was treated at Delhi airport is highly condemnable,” Dhaliwal said.

Emphasising Punjab’s historic contribution to India’s independence, Dhaliwal said Punjabis had made enormous sacrifices to free the country from British rule and had played a defining role in the freedom struggle. He said the community deserved respect, not discrimination or humiliation.

Dhaliwal appealed to Punjabis living across India and around the world to recognise what he described as the BJP’s continued disregard for Punjab and its people. He warned the BJP leadership that persisting with such politics would have serious consequences and urged it to change its approach towards Punjabis and Sikhs.

“The BJP must change this discriminatory policy. Punjabis have sacrificed immensely for this country and have always contributed to its progress. They will not accept repeated insults to their identity, their artists or their elected leadership,” Dhaliwal said.

Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) Punjab President and Cabinet Minister Aman Arora on Thursday hit out at the Congress, saying its MP Amarinder Singh Raja Warring’s statement had exposed the party’s anti-people and feudal mindset. He warned that if Congress came to power in Punjab in 2027, even by mistake, it would snatch away free electricity, the ₹10 lakh Mukh Mantri Sehat Yojna and financial assistance for women, while bringing back toll plazas and imposing higher electricity and canal water charges.

Pointing out that Congress is wanting to deny ordinary Punjabis welfare benefits while its own MPs, MLAs and former ministers continued to enjoy subsidies, Aman Arora challenged the party’s top leadership, including Rahul Gandhi, Mallikarjun Kharge and Pratap Singh Bajwa, to clarify whether these schemes would continue under a Congress government, asserting that the party’s election promises would prove hollow and Punjab could return to an era of public hardship and exploitation.

Addressing a press conference, AAP Punjab President and Cabinet Minister Aman Arora said Amarinder Singh Raja Warring’s remarks about restricting electricity subsidies and financial assistance for women on the grounds of need raise serious questions about the Congress party’s agenda for Punjab. “The people of Punjab deserved a clear answer on whether Congress intended to continue these benefits or withdraw them if elected to power,” he asserted.

The AAP Punjab President pointed out, “The AAP government, under CM Bhagwant Singh Mann, is providing electricity subsidies to households, farmers and industry, with the policy aimed at meeting people’s needs.” He also referred to the monthly financial assistance provided to women and said Congress leaders had questioned the continuation of such benefits by suggesting that those who did not need them should be excluded.

He noted, “Amarinder Singh Raja Warring’s statement has made Congress’s intentions clear. If Congress comes to power in 2027, it will not stop at electricity subsidies and financial assistance for women. People must also ask what will happen to the ₹10 lakh Mukh Mantri Sehat Yojna health cover, closed toll plazas, canal water reach and Mukh Mantri Teerath Yatra.”

Questioning the criteria for deciding who deserved government assistance, Aman Arora asked who would determine which families were eligible for these benefits and on what basis. Would Raja Warring make these decisions, or would Congress leaders Rahul Gandhi, Pratap Singh Bajwa and others decide which households deserved electricity subsidies and which women should receive financial assistance, he asked.

Challenging Congress leaders to lead by example, Aman Arora asked why Congress leaders, former ministers, Members of the Legislative Assembly and their families continued to benefit from government subsidies instead of voluntarily surrendering them if they genuinely believed that those who did not need assistance should be excluded.

He said, “While the AAP government has been providing free electricity for four years and financial assistance to women for around six months, I have not seen Congress leaders publicly relinquish these benefits.”

Aman Arora also reminded the people of Punjab of the Congress party’s record on electricity subsidies. Referring to the period when Captain Amarinder Singh led the Congress government, he said free electricity for farmers had been discontinued after the Congress came to power in 2002, only to be restored after the general election two-and-a-half years later. He said Congress had also promised before the 2017 Assembly elections to continue free electricity, and its past record raised doubts about its present assurances. “Congress may make all kinds of promises in its manifesto and election speeches, but the people of Punjab must judge the party by its actions and its record in government,” he said.

The AAP Punjab President called on Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge and Rahul Gandhi to clarify whether the party would continue the electricity subsidies and financial assistance for women provided by the Punjab government or discontinue them after coming to power.

Aman Arora further warned that the implications of the Congress party’s approach could extend beyond electricity subsidies and financial assistance for women. “A Congress government will bring back toll plazas, impose charges for canal water supplied to agricultural fields, increase electricity costs and discontinue the ₹10 lakh health cover provided under the Mukh Mantri Sehat Yojna.”

He said, “If Congress comes to power, Punjab would once again face a period in which ordinary people are burdened with higher costs while welfare benefits are withdrawn.”

Aman Arora urged Punjabis not to be misled by election-time promises and to take Amarinder Singh Raja Warring’s remarks seriously when assessing the Congress party’s intentions ahead of the 2027 Assembly elections. “The people of Punjab must understand what is being signalled through these statements. The issue is not just electricity subsidies or financial assistance for women; it is whether the benefits reaching ordinary families today will continue or be taken away. Congress must answer these questions clearly before asking Punjab for votes in 2027,” Aman Arora said.