Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) Punjab State Media In-Charge Baltej Pannu on Wednesday strongly condemned the conduct of BJP leader and Union Minister Ravneet Singh Bittu during the Dhuri municipal elections, describing his behaviour as shameful, condemnable and a reflection of a “cheap mentality”.
Addressing a press conference, AAP Punjab Media In-charge Baltej Pannu said the manner in which a Union Minister publicly abused Punjab Police personnel, insulted a woman SSP and interfered in election duty exposed the BJP’s arrogance of power and disregard for democratic institutions. “Ravneet Singh Bittu is neither a resident nor a voter of Dhuri, and after the end of campaigning, outsiders are not permitted to remain in the area under election rules. Despite this, Ravneet Singh Bittu not only stayed in the constituency but also obstructed the functioning of the police deployment on duty,” he added.
The AAPPunjab State Media In-charge stated, “I watched the video several times since morning and still could not believe that a Union Minister could stoop to such a level merely for media headlines. Ravneet Singh Bittu grabbed the collar of a Gursikh police employee deployed on duty, misbehaved with him and used derogatory words like ‘dalal’ for police personnel.”
DON'T MISS
He further stated that the Sangrur district police force is being led by SSP Navjot Kaur Grewal, a competent woman officer who achieved her position through hard work and merit. “Ravneet Singh Bittu openly threatened the SSP by saying, ‘If you were not a woman, I don’t know what I would have done.’ Apart from this, casteist remarks were also made openly. Punjab Police eliminated terrorism during the darkest times and is currently carrying out exemplary work against drugs. Insulting such a force is extremely shameful,” he added.
Targeting Ravneet Singh Bittu over his own political history, Baltej Pannu remarked, “Ravneet Bittu, if this force is so bad, then how have you forgotten that during Captain Amarinder Singh’s government, your own brother was recruited into Punjab Police on compassionate grounds? At that time, age limits, educational qualifications and rules were changed for your brother. Today, the Inspectors and DSPs whom you are openly abusing have reached their positions through merit, without recommendations or bribery. It is possible that the position your brother occupies was given by snatching away the right of a deserving youth.”
Baltej Pannu also cornered the BJP over the issue of narcotics and law and order. He said Punjab Police is among the best police forces in the country in maintaining law and order and recovering narcotics. “If Ravneet Singh Bittu has courage, he should question the drugs seized at Gujarat ports. Instead of speaking about the deteriorating law and order situation in BJP-ruled states, he wants to disturb Punjab’s atmosphere,” he asserted.
Baltej Pannu said the government led by CM Bhagwant Singh Mann stands firmly with every Punjab Police officer and employee. “The BJP’s conspiracy to demoralise Punjab Police will never be allowed to succeed,” he affirmed.
He further stated, “If this act was committed unintentionally, then Ravneet Singh Bittu should immediately and unconditionally apologise to Punjab Police, the woman officer and the parents of those police personnel. But if all this was done deliberately to promote cheap politics, then the law knows very well how to do its job.”
