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Chandigarh: Several opposition leaders were detained on Sunday as members of the Bharatiya Janata Party, Indian National Congress, Shiromani Akali Dal and Communist Party of India staged a joint protest outside the Punjab MLA hostel, demanding the arrest of former minister Laljit Singh Bhullar. The protestors had planned a march to the residence of Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann but were stopped by the Chandigarh Police, which had deployed a heavy security presence in the area.
Police Action to Contain Protest
Police barricaded the MLA hostel complex with multiple layers of security and prevented protestors from moving out. As the crowd attempted to advance, police used water cannons to disperse them and detained several leaders and workers. The protest was part of escalating political tension over the Gagandeep Randhawa sucide case, in which ex-minister Lalji Singh Bhullar has been booked on charges including abetment to suicide.
Senior Leaders Participate
Several senior Congress leaders were present at the protest, including Leader of Opposition Partap Singh Bajwa, state president Amarinder Singh Raja Warring, MP Gurjeet Singh Aujla, and former ministers O P Soni, Rana K P Singh, Raj Kumar Verka, and Harjot Kamal.
From the BJP, state president Sunil Jakhar, along with Anil Sareen and Iqbal Singh Lalpura, joined the protest. Bikram Majithia from the SAD and CPI leaders also participated, reflecting a rare show of unity among opposition parties on the issue.
Demand for Arrest Intensifies
The opposition has been demanding the immediate arrest of Laljit Singh Bhullar and a fair probe into the circumstances surrounding the death of the Punjab State Warehousing Corporation official. With protests intensifying, the issue has emerged as a major political flashpoint in Punjab, putting pressure on the AAP government to act swiftly.
