Ludhiana, Punjab – In the run‑up to the state assembly polls, political tension erupted when BJP figure and former Union Minister Ravneet Singh Bittu disrupted Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann’s appearance at the Punjab Agricultural University.
How the protest unfolded
As the chief minister’s convoy departed the Kisan Mela, Bittu, flanked by party workers, stepped onto the route holding a bottle of liquor. He shouted that he had come to "return" the bottle to the CM and alleged that tomatoes had been thrown at the vehicle moments earlier.
Accusations against the government
Bittu used the platform to reiterate the BJP’s criticism of Mann’s handling of the drug crisis in Punjab. He also referenced a prior incident in Batala, where he claimed AAP supporters tossed eggs at his convoy, prompting his security detail to detain three alleged perpetrators.
"If protests can be mounted against BJP leaders, we too have the democratic right to demonstrate against the state government," Bittu declared during the Ludhiana stand‑off.
Police response
Law enforcement intervened promptly, taking Bittu into custody. The party, however, affirmed that the arrest would not deter its agenda.
- Continue highlighting Punjab’s drug problem.
- Organise further peaceful demonstrations outside CM events and government offices.
- Maintain a visible presence during the upcoming election campaign.
Following his detention, Bittu assured supporters that the BJP would press on with its “Nasha Mukt Punjab Yatra” and other anti‑drug initiatives, regardless of police actions.
