Punjab: Cong, BJP are 'hand-in-glove', alleges AAP's Cheema after FIR against him

Chandigarh, Jul 12 (PTI) A day after the Chandigarh police filed an FIR against him and another minister on a complaint of Leader of Opposition in Punjab Partap Singh Bajwa for alleged defamation and forgery, state Finance Minister Harpal Singh Cheema on Saturday said it has become clear that the Congress and the BJP are working "hand-in-glove." The police on Friday registered the case against an "unknown media handler" of AAP, and state cabinet ministers Harpal Singh Cheema and Aman Arora on the complaint of Congress leader Bajwa, who accused the ruling party and its leaders of circulatinga doctored version of a video he posted related to SAD leader Bikram Singh Majithia.

The case was registered under BNS Sections 336 (4) (forgery), 356 (defamation) and 61 (2) (criminal conspiracy).

In his complaint, Bajwa had sought an FIR against the Aam Aadmi Party, "their leaders and their henchmen for fabricating videos" against him. He also referred to a recent case against Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) leader Majithia, who was arrested in a disproportionate assets case.

"Recently, an FIR was registered against Majithia by the Punjab Vigilance Bureau. His wife, Ganieve Kaur, is a Member of the Legislative Assembly, Punjab. In blatant violation of the law, officials from the Punjab Vigilance Bureau entered her home and even went into her bedroom. Such conduct towards a woman is unacceptable and contrary to the law," Bajwa stated in his complaint.

Speaking to the media here on Saturday, AAP leader and minister Cheema said the Chandigarh police registered the FIR against him and Arora within 24 hours of receiving the complaint from Bajwa.

"Look how fast the Chandigarh police comes into action. The LoP files an application and, within 24 hours, the BJP government registers an FIR against the AAP leaders.

"We are not scared of speaking the truth. But with this, it has become clear that Bajwa, Congress and BJP are all together," alleged Cheema.

In the Punjab Assembly on Friday, Cheema had accused Bajwa of having a "link" with the BJP, alleging that he got a cybercrime case registered against the Aam Aadmi Party.

In his complaint with the Chandigarh police, Bajwa had stated that on June 25, he posted a 3-minute-48-second video on X at 3.13 pm, criticising the actions of the Punjab Vigilance Bureau officials. He also highlighted similar "misconduct" by them towards Congress MLA Sukhpal Singh Khaira.

Bajwa alleged that AAP's official social media accounts on X and Facebook edited his video to remove references to Ganieve Kaur and her position as a female MLA.

"This doctored video was manipulated to suggest that I supported Majithia. Subsequently, AAP leaders began sharing these altered videos on their official X accounts and circulating them on social media, implying that I supported Majithia, who is under investigation," his complaint read.

Bajwa claimed that Cheema shared the edited video on his Facebook account and that his ministerial colleague Arora did likewise on AAP Punjab's Facebook page.

"This edited video was purposely circulated to damage my political reputation and that of the Congress Party.

"I was defamed and falsely accused of supporting a person facing prosecution and siding with lawbreakers, while the original issue I raised regarding the conduct of the Punjab Vigilance Bureau officials was obscured," he had alleged.

Bajwa sought an FIR and an investigation into the allegations against the persons involved and their accomplices. PTI CHS RT RT