AAP govt fostering environment of unrest in Punjab: Ajay Maken
Congress MP calls Kejriwal 'khalnayak' and 'anarchist', accuses him of shielding terrorists responsible for 11 bomb blasts

In a scathing attack on AAP (Aam Aadmi Party) convenor and former Delhi chief minister Arvind Kejriwal, former Union minister and Delhi assembly speaker Ajay Maken criticised the lawlessness in Punjab, blaming the AAP government for fostering an environment of unrest. He pointed to a series of incidents, including the recent desecration of Dr Bhimrao Ambedkar’s statue in Amritsar and the resurgence of terrorism in the state, as proof of Kejriwal’s failure to govern effectively.
Maken called Kejriwal a "khalnayak (villain)" and “anarchist”, accusing him of shielding terrorists responsible for 11 bomb blasts under the leadership of Punjab chief minister Bhagwant Singh Mann. “The time has come to show the door to anarchist Kejriwal, who is behind the lawlessness in Punjab,” Maken asserted.
At a press conference, Maken presented a news clip from 2 February 2017, featuring a warning by top cop K.P.S. Gill, who had cautioned that the AAP’s rise in Punjab would encourage radicalism. Maken further accused the AAP of harbouring pro-Khalistan elements, citing the use of Austria-made grenades in attacks on police stations in Punjab, which he suggested could be linked to Pakistani agencies, given their resemblance to explosives used in previous terror attacks, including those on Mumbai and the Parliament.
Accompanied by former Punjab deputy chief minister Sukhjinder Singh Randhawa, Maken condemned the vandalism of Dr Ambedkar’s statue, which occurred on 26 January at Heritage Street near the Golden Temple. The accused, identified as Akashdeep Singh, reportedly from the Scheduled Caste community, sparked outrage across the nation. Maken and Randhawa condemned the disrespect shown to the architect of the Indian Constitution.
Randhawa criticised Kejriwal's dual development model, accusing him of selling the 'Delhi model' in Punjab while promoting the 'Punjab model' in Delhi, calling it a recipe for the nation’s downfall. He raised concerns about Kejriwal’s alleged links with radicals, highlighting the AAP leader's association with Gurinder Singh, an accused in a 2017 temple blast, and the hospitality Kejriwal reportedly received during an overnight stay at Singh’s home.
Additionally, Randhawa referred to claims made by a pro-Khalistan group in March 2024, alleging a $16 million (Rs 128 crore) donation to the AAP. He also pointed out that the Punjab government had failed to register a case against Gurpatwant Singh Pannun, a pro-Khalistan activist based in the US and Canada, despite his threats to AAP leaders. Randhawa accused AAP MP Raghav Chadha of maintaining frequent contact with pro-Khalistan radicals, both over phone and in person.
The Congress leaders also raised alarm over the rising number of grenade attacks in Punjab, which have become more frequent in recent months. Maken lamented the state police's tendency to downplay these bombings, dismissing them as "cracker blasts" or "radiator explosions." He noted that police stations have been fortified, with roads leading to them being blocked after sunset to prevent further attacks.
Maken and Randhawa concluded by accusing the AAP of exacerbating the drug problem in Punjab, claiming that the party’s policies have allowed narcotics to flow freely from Delhi into the state.
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