Ravneet Bittu detained is the latest flashpoint in Punjab’s political tussle. Punjab Police detained the BJP leader and former Union minister in Ludhiana on Saturday, September 19. This came a day after he alleged that AAP workers attacked his convoy near Batala.
The two incidents involve Bittu and Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann’s AAP government. Both sides are yet to give a public account that matches. Punjab is heading towards Assembly elections, so the row has drawn wide attention.
What did Ravneet Bittu allege about the Batala convoy attack?
On Friday, September 18, Bittu said a crowd attacked his convoy near Batala. He was travelling to Pathankot for the launch of the BJP’s Nasha Mukt Punjab Yatra.
Bittu said people surrounded his vehicles and threw eggs, tomatoes and stones. He said windows of escort vehicles were damaged. The Week reported damage to two escort vehicles and a jammer vehicle.
Daijiworld places the spot on GT Road near Ghasitpura, about eight kilometres from Batala. The size of the crowd varies in reports. Bittu spoke of more than 100 people in one account and about 200 in another. Ravneet Bittu also said 500 people were present.
He claimed some in the crowd were armed. He also accused the police of failing to act. “AAP has become a gangster party,” he told reporters, as reported by Daily Jagran.
What did BJP say about the alleged attack?
BJP state president Kewal Dhillon condemned the incident on X. He urged the Punjab DGP to act against those responsible. He said the Punjab Police should work as a “professional police force,” IANS reported.
Bittu also said he called Punjab DGP Gaurav Yadav and approached the office of Union Home Minister Amit Shah. He said an IPS officer, Dr Mehtab Singh, reached the spot after that and the situation was brought under control.
Bittu said no FIR had been registered when he spoke on September 19. He said a police officer asked him to send his complaint by email. That claim has not been confirmed by police in the reports reviewed.
Why was Ravneet Bittu detained in Ludhiana?
On Saturday, Bittu protested near the Punjab Agricultural University gate. Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann’s cavalcade was passing by to reach the Kisan Mela.
Bittu held up a liquor bottle towards the convoy and said he was “returning the bottle.” He also returned the eggs and tomatoes that, he said, had been thrown at his convoy a day earlier.
He said Mann should enjoy his liquor while Arvind Kejriwal ran Punjab from Delhi. Ludhiana Police detained him, and he was reportedly taken to an undisclosed location.
Reports differ on one point. The Week says Bittu reportedly tried to throw liquor bottles, eggs and tomatoes. His press release, as reported by ANI, says he held up a bottle. The police have not given their reason for the detention in the reports reviewed.
Bittu said political opposition “cannot be silenced through police action,” according to ANI. He added that BJP workers would answer every democratic protest democratically.
He also said that if AAP workers protest against BJP yatras, BJP workers will protest against the Punjab government too.
A response from AAP or from the Punjab Police to Bittu’s allegations was not found in the reports reviewed. Whether Bittu has been released also remains unconfirmed.
What is the background to the Ravneet Bittu row?
The BJP launched the Nasha Mukt Punjab Yatra to raise the issue of drugs. Bittu said the yatra was meant to target the AAP government’s handling of the problem. AAP has been in power in Punjab for about four and a half years.
The clash comes with Punjab moving towards elections. Both parties are trying to shape the narrative on law and order and drugs.