Tensions flare in Punjabs Bathinda as clashes erupt between BJP, AAP workers over Sanjeev Aroras arrest

PTC News Desk: The BJP and the Aam Aadmi Party activists clashed in Punjab's Bathinda dsitrict over the money laundering case involving Cabinet Minister Sanjeev Arora, who was arrested by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) from Chandigarh yesterday.

BJP activists demanded the resignation of Cabinet Minister Sanjeev Arora and Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann on moral grounds.

The protest over AAP minister's arrest turned violent and activists came face-to-face leading to a tense face-off between the two groups, prompting immediate security response. 

BJP workers, led by former MLA and the party’s Bathinda Urban district president Sarup Chand Singla, later returned to the party office but continued protesting outside. They raised slogans against the AAP government, Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann and Cabinet Minister Sanjeev Arora.

Meanwhile, AAP supporters raised slogans against Prime Minister Narendra Modi and accused the BJP of being against Punjab. They also claimed that the ED was being misused for political purposes.

Several senior AAP leaders were present during the protest, including MLAs Jagroop Singh Gill, Balkar Sidhu, Jagsir Singh and Sukhveer Singh Maiserkhana, former Mayor Padamjeet Mehta, Bathinda Lok Sabha in-charge Navdeep Jeeda and district president Jatinder Bhalla.

Heavy police force remained deployed in the area till the filing of the report to prevent any untoward incident.

Notably, the AAP had called for protests outside BJP offices in all districts of Punjab on Sunday.

Police personnel were also seen trying to control the situation outside the BJP office in Bathinda.