In BJP leader Parvesh Verma’s remarks, AAP gets ammo to consolidate Punjabi votes ahead of Delhi polls

The Punjabi community, including Sikhs, comprises 19 per cent of voters successful Delhi. “Delhi has a sizeable colonisation of Punjabis. With the Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) not contesting the Delhi elections this time, we were looking astatine Sikh votes. SAD ever harps connected Sikh voters successful Delhi. But Verma has fixed america a bully handle. Now, we volition proceed riding connected it. This tin assistance america consolidate Punjabi voters,” an AAP person said, speaking connected the information of anonymity. He added that the enactment enactment was to onslaught Verma’s remarks.

“We volition not fto this contented die. Thousands of vehicles with Punjab registration plates are roaming astir present (Delhi). Who are successful those vehicles? Preparations for celebrating January 26 (Republic Day) are going connected here. What large happening are they going to bash present that could enactment our information strategy astatine risk?” Verma had said successful Delhi connected Tuesday.

Mann and Arora termed Verma’s remarks “divisive, dangerous, and a nonstop insult to the Punjabi assemblage and their contributions to India’s unity and security.”

“Delhi is the superior of India, and radical from each authorities unrecorded here. Vehicles from each authorities determination freely crossed the country, and determination is nary regularisation connected their movement. BJP’s connection questioning the beingness of Punjab-registered vehicles successful Delhi is not lone appalling but besides profoundly insulting to Punjabis. They are insinuating that Punjabis are a menace to nationalist information simply due to the fact that of their authorities of origin. This is unacceptable and an insult to the patriotism of each Punjabi,” Mann said successful a station connected X connected Tuesday.

Mann further questioned the BJP’s priorities, saying, “Home Minister Amit Shah cannot unafraid the country’s borders nor forestall amerciable infiltrations of thousands of Bangladeshis and Rohingyas. Yet, helium and his enactment leaders statement Punjabis travelling to Delhi arsenic a information threat. This reflects their unsafe mindset and implicit disregard for Punjab’s immense contributions to the nation’s information and progress. BJP owes an apology to the Punjabi assemblage for this baseless and shameful allegation.”

Arora besides issued a scathing response. “Parvesh Verma’s derogatory connection targeting Punjabis reflects the BJP’s deep-seated bias and ignorance. Questioning the beingness of Punjab-registered vehicles successful Delhi and linking them to threats connected Republic Day is simply a inexpensive governmental stunt. BJP’s Delhi campaigner should beryllium ashamed of stooping to specified debased levels of politics,” helium said.

He besides reminded the BJP of Punjab’s bequest of sacrifice and patriotism. He added, “It was Punjabis who made implicit 80 per cent of the sacrifices for India’s freedom. It was Punjabis who stood astatine the forefront to support the country, past and now. The Gurus of Punjab gave their lives for the nation’s unity and humanity. Even today, whenever information looms implicit India’s borders, it is the Punjabi soldiers who basal gangly and support the state with their lives. For BJP leaders to question the loyalty of Punjabis is an insult to this legacy.”

Arora further criticised the BJP leadership. “Parvesh Verma’s remarks exposure BJP’s divisive and hate-filled politics. Instead of focusing connected issues affecting the people, they are spreading hatred against a assemblage that has ever been the backbone of India. Amit Shah, Narendra Modi, and their full enactment indispensable instrumentality work for this disgraceful connection and contented a nationalist apology to Punjabis,” helium said.

The AAP kept up the vigor connected Wednesday. Kang told the media that specified a connection showed the BJP’s “frustration” arsenic it was losing the February 5 Delhi Assembly polls. “It shows however overmuch hatred the BJP has for you. It shows the mentality of the BJP towards Punjabis,” Kang said. He besides sought an apology from Verma stating that it was an insult not conscionable to a assemblage but to the full state.

AAP spokesperson Neel Garg said, “Why should we people anyone? We are comfy successful Delhi. We volition triumph by a immense margin. We are conscionable asking him to apologise arsenic helium has insulted a assemblage and a state.”