The BJP Chandigarh unit staged a protest outside the Punjab Chief Minister’s residence, accusing the AAP government of authoritarianism, misuse of power, and political vendetta. They alleged the illegal detention of Komal Sharma, sister-in-law of councillor Suman Sharma, who recently defected from AAP to BJP. The Shiromani Akali Dal also condemned the misuse of state machinery to harass political opponents.
Chandigarh's political landscape has seen fresh turbulence ahead of the mayoral elections, with the BJP and Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) criticizing the AAP government over the arrest of a family member of Ward No. 4 councillor Suman Sharma. The BJP Chandigarh unit staged a protest outside Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann's residence, accusing the AAP of authoritarianism, misuse of power, and political vendetta. They alleged that Punjab Police illegally detained Komal Sharma, Suman's sister-in-law, who recently switched from AAP to BJP.
The protest was led by BJP Chandigarh president Jitendra Pal Malhotra and attended by senior leaders, including vice-presidents Devender Babla, Bharat Kumar, and Indira Singh, general secretaries Ramveer Bhatti and Sanjeev Rana, Mayor Harpreet Kaur Babla, and others. Malhotra alleged that Suman Sharma has faced continuous pressure from AAP leaders to return to the party. He claimed Ward No. 16 councillor Poonam was openly threatened by AAP councillors to quit BJP, describing it as a strategy to intimidate opponents.
Malhotra further claimed that an FIR was registered against Komal Sharma, a contractual worker in Punjab's Water Supply Department, Sector 27, at Sohana police station around 10:30 pm. She was forcibly picked up from her residence around 7 am without informing the local police station. He called it a 'well-planned conspiracy' and condemned the manner of her detention as shameful, exposing AAP's hollow claims on women's safety.
SAD Chandigarh president Charanjit Singh Villy also slammed the AAP government, terming the action politically motivated and executed under Punjab government's instructions. In a press note, Villy said the timing and manner of the arrest raise questions about AAP's political intent. He accused the state machinery of being misused to harass opponents and their families, violating democratic values. Villy linked it to senior AAP leader Manish Sisodia's advocacy of 'Saam, Daam, Dand, Bhed' policy and demanded the Chandigarh Administrator enforce the Anti-Defection Law.
Both parties warned that politics of intimidation and vendetta would not be tolerated and urged constitutional authorities to take note and ensure impartial law implementation.
