AAP protests across Punjab in support of MLA Yadav in sacrilege case

In a statement, Punjab AAP convener Sucha Singh Chhotepur termed the arrest as political vendetta. Chhotepur claimed Badals have nothing to show in their report card now and are unable to cope up with anti-incumbency in the state.

Volunteers of Aam Aadmi Party held protests at district headquarters across Punjab to oppose the arrest of its Delhi MLA Naresh Yadav by Punjab Police in connection with the Quran sacrilege incident. The leaders handed over memorandum addressed to President of India to the deputy commissioners.

Punjab AAP women wing president Baljinder Kaur (right) leads a protest in Bathinda on Tuesday. (Sanjeev Kumar/HT Photo)

In a press statement issued here on Tuesday, Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) state convener, Sucha Singh Chhotepur, said Yadav’s arrest was part of a deep-rooted conspiracy of the Badals against AAP leaders, who were exposing their wrongdoings.

“The case against Yadav is a political vendetta. The accused Vijay Kumar admitted his association with the Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP) but police pressured him to name an AAP leader in the desecration case. Yadav had been cooperating with the police and will continue to do that,” said Chhotepur.

Addressing the protesters in Gurdaspur, Chhotepur said a responsible person like Yadav could not do anything illegal and immoral. Chhotepur said Badals had made the Akali Dal a family affair and it should be named ‘Badal & Co’.

In Ludhiana, zone coordinator Col CM Lakhanpal slammed the SAD-BJP alliance for having found new ways of troubling AAP supporters. In Sangrur, the AAP protest near the administrative complex could not attract much crowd because mainstream leaders of party were absent. District leader Inderpal Singh said Yadav was framed and all allegations against him were frivolous. In Bathinda, AAP activists were led by party’s women’s wing president Baljinder Kaur.