Kurukshetra 2.0: Punjab, Delhi, Haryana Spar Over Tajinder Bagga

 

NEW DELHI: A high-voltage political drama unfolded in the national capital after a team of Punjab Police arrested Delhi BJP spokesperson Tajinder Pal Singh Bagga on Friday for statements against Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal.

Bagga was arrested from his residence in West Delhi’s Janakpuri area, a month after he was booked in Mohali for his remarks against Kejriwal over the latter’s views on the ‘The Kashmir Files’ movie. Meanwhile, Punjab Police said that a fresh case has been registered against Bagga at the Cyber police station of Mohali and he was wanted ny the police.

However, the cavalcade taking the BJP leader, who has been highly critical of Kejriwal on social media, was stopped in Kurukshetra in BJP-ruled Haryana en route Mohali. Officials of the Haryana Police were talking to the Punjab Police team over “some issues”, sources said.

Reports emanating from Kurukshetra say that Punjab Police team carrying Bagga was stopped taken to a police station where Punjab Police personnel was disarmed and detained.

In a fast moving development, a team of Delhi Police has reached Kurukshetra where Bagga has been kept. Earlier, Delhi Police has registered an FIR against Punjab Police personnel on the charges of criminal trespass and kidnapping after Bagga’s father lodged a formal complaint against Punjab Police team.

Meanwhile, Punjab Police officials said that the DGP has written letters to the Haryana DGP and the Delhi Police Commissioner informing him that Bagga was arrested following a complaint to Mohali cyber police.

As the BJP stepped up attack on the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP), the Delhi Police registered an FIR of abduction at Janakpuri Police Station based on a complaint of Bagga’s father that he was taken away from some people from their residence on Friday morning.
There was no official word from the Haryana Police.

In a statement, the Punjab Police said that the 36-year-old leader was being taken to the state and will be produced before a court. It said that he was arrested following due process after he did not join the investigation despite being served five summons.

In March, the Punjab Police registered an FIR against Bagga on the charges of making provocative statements, promoting enmity and criminal intimidation, on the complaint of AAP leader Sunny Ahluwalia in Mohali.

 

 

Delhi BJP workers staged a protest against the Delhi chief minister and the Punjab Police at Janakpuri Police Station over his arrest.
Bagga’s arrest was followed by sharp reactions from the BJP which accused the AAP, which is ruling Punjab, of misusing the police force.

BJP Youth Wing President Tejasvi Surya, in a tweet, said that the entire party stands with his family in “this hour of oppression”, vowing to fight back.

“Have spoken with Tajinder Bagga’s mother. Assured her that entire organisation is with them in this hour of oppression. BJYM will do everything in our capacity to bring Bagga back to safety and liberty. We will fight back! Arvind Kejriwal, you have messed with the wrong guys,” he tweeted.

 

 

BJP leader from Punjab and the party’s national general secretary Tarun Chugh tweeted, “The manner in which Kejriwal is misusing Punjab Police is condemnable. The Punjab Police has arrested Bagga from his home.”

“They behaved inhumanly with Bagga and his father. But remember (Arvind) Kejriwal Ji, your such acts cannot scare a true Sikh,” he said in the tweet.

Delhi BJP chief Adesh Gupta tweeted, “Sending 50-60 Punjab Police personnel to the house of the young BJP leader, forcibly lifting him and getting his elderly father beaten up is proof of the dictatorial mindset of Arvind Kejriwal.”