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AAP Accuses BJP of 'Indirect Rule', Calls Defectors 'Traitors'

Punjab Minister Harpal Singh Cheema on Tuesday launched a sharp attack on the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), accusing the party of trying to rule states "indirectly" where they are "rejected" by the public. Speaking to ANI, Cheema stated that the BJP will receive a befitting reply from the public. He further claimed that the seven AAP MPs who left the party to join the BJP are being termed as "traitors." "BJP wants to rule the state indirectly where they are rejected by the public...The public of the nation will give a befitting reply to the BJP...The people of Punjab are terming the AAP Rajya Sabha MPs who joined the BJP as traitors," said Cheema.

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Another Punjab Minister, Harbhajan Singh ETO called the "merger" of AAP MPs into BJP as "undemocratic." He said, "This is undemocratic, the way the AAP Rajya Sabha MPs crossed over to the BJP."

This comes after Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann called on President Droupadi Murmu, demanding her cancellation of Rajya Sabha membership of all seven AAP leaders, who merged with the BJP last month.

BJP Hits Back, Alleges 'Vendetta Politics' by Punjab Govt

Earlier, Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) MP Raghav Chadha on Tuesday claimed that he will Punjab government's "next target", after he met President Droupadi Murmu to apprise her about the 'vendetta politics' against 7 MPs who left the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP). Addressing a press conference shortly after calling on President Murmu, he accused the Punjab government of hiring agencies and threatening all seven former AAP MPs by using state funds.

"I want to tell AAP that they have started a dangerous game of revenge with the help of the Vigilance Board and Pollution Board, but the end will be really bad. According to sources, I will be their next target. The Punjab govt hired agencies to threaten us on social media. AAP is doing this using Punjab govt funds. This is the reason I said AAP is stuck in the hands of corrupt and compromised people," he said.

Chadda's claims a few days after the Punjab government registered two FIRs against Sandeep Pathak, another Rajya Sabha MP who left the Aam Aadmi Party to join the BJP. Chadha also stated that the President has assured security to all seven former AAP MPs and cautioned the Punjab government officers, as the current state government has only a few years left in power.

"We made the President aware of the misuse and abuse of the Punjab state machinery by Aam Aadmi Party. The President has assured us of our protection and of protecting the Constitution. I want to tell the Punjab govt officers to beware, as the AAP govt has only a few months remaining now. Today, we told the President about the way the Punjab government has been using state machinery for dangerous vendetta politics against the MPs who left AAP to join the BJP," he said.

Chadha Details 'Malicious' Actions by AAP Govt

Chadha alleged "malicious" and "fabricated" cases being registered against BJP MP Sandeep Pathak, and shutting down of Rajinder Gupta's factory in Punjab. "'Deshdrohi' was written outside the residence of World Cup winner Harbhajan Singh by AAP workers with the help of the Punjab Police. After this, the water connection to Padma Shree Rajendra Gupta's factory was cut in Punjab. AAP also registered malicious and fabricated FIRs against Sandeep Pathak, and it was spread through the media that he would be arrested," said Chadha.

Sandeep Pathak, who accompanied Raghav Chadha while meeting with President Murmu, accused the AAP of intimidating former party MPs by filing fake FIRs. "We had decided to leave AAP based on our rights given by the Constitution. AAP is trying to intimidate us by filing fake FIRs. We will fight a legal battle... We are working for the interest of the country," he said.

Rajya Sabha MP Sandeep Pathak, who rebelled against the Aam Aadmi Party and joined the Bharatiya Janata Party, said earlier today that he is "not scared of fake FIRs," referring to the two FIRs reportedly filed against him by the Punjab Police. (ANI)