A number of BJP workers, who were protesting Delhi Chief Minister and AAP convener Arvind Kejriwal’s visit to the town today, faced police wrath.
At least six BJP office-bearers, including two women, were injured when the police resorted to lathicharge to disperse them.
Nearly 200 workers were detained. Later they were taken to Aliwal, 12 km from the town, in three buses where they were lodged in a government guest house.
Daljinder Singh Dhillon, SSP, denied that the protesters were lathicharged. He, however, said they were compelled to use a mild force to disperse the protesters.
In contrast, sources said nearly 500 workers and several mediapersons were present when the police lathicharged the protesters.
Earlier, demonstrators carrying anti-Kejriwal placards blocked traffic at Gandhi chowk from where the Delhi CM’s cavalcade was to pass on its way to the party office at Shastri Nagar.
Just before the arrival of the cavalcade, the protesters led by Batala BJP president Suresh Bhatia reportedly turned violent following which the police canecharged them. Municipal Committee president Naresh Mahajan was among those detained.
Kejriwal later addressed a gathering at the party office. He was accompanied by state convener Sucha Singh Chhotepur, Sangrur MP Bhagwant Mann and Gurpreet Ghuggi.
In his brief address, Kejriwal reiterated that if AAP was voted to power, he would rid the state of the drug menace in two months. He assured industrialists that he would push for a special package for them.
Ghuggi, who is seen as party’s ticket contender from Batala, struck an emotional chord with the crowd as he narrated how as a child he used to see his village, Khokhar Faujian, 6 km from here, as a flourishing place. “Now it is in ruins with every second household affected by drug addiction. A nearby village, Dayalgarh, had shot to fame with the rise of Olympian hockey player Surjit Singh. Now even that village is ravaged by the drug menace. Every household in my village used to send at least one person to serve the Army. All this has changed because of the scourge of drugs. AAP will root out the menace after assuming power,” he said.
Promises made by Delhi CM on day 4 of his Punjab visit
- Special package for industrialists: Kejriwal assures industrialists that he will push for a special package for them. Addressing industrialists in Jalandhar, Kejriwal said: “The state government sees you as big earners and extorts money from you. In Europe and US, entrepreneurs are respected. You are the ones who provide jobs. Thus, the revival of the industry will be our prime agenda.”
Drug-free state in two months: Addressing party workers in Batala, Kejriwal reiterated if AAP was voted to power, the party would tackle the drug menace in two months. He said party workers had been on the job to gather information on the extent of drug menace in the state. “At Roke Kalan in Moga, I met at least 35 youths who have been rehabilitated with the help of a local welfare body. If an organisation with limited resources can do it, why can’t the government,” he asked. - Will abolish ‘goonda tax’: At a meeting with stone crushers in Batala, the Delhi Chief Minister said his government would abolish “goonda tax” extorted by goons enjoying political patronage. “AAP has already done this in Delhi. All these corrupt elements will be taken to task in Punjab as well.”
- Punjab to be investment hub: In Phagwara, Kejriwal said he would make Punjab the best investment destination in the country. Addressing families of NRIs at Chaheru village, he said: “NRIs supported us wholeheartedly in the Delhi elections. Now, it is the turn of Punjabi NRIs to play a vital role. In return, we will make Punjab an investment hub.”
- Relief for Dalits: The Delhi CM continued to raise issues concerning Dalits on the fourth day of his visit to the state. He met aggrieved families of 20 Dalits killed in a road accident near Hoshiarpur on their way to Chintpurni in 2013. The government had assured a grant of Rs 1 lakh each, but none of the families got it so far. Kejriwal promised relief to them.