War of words in Punjab as AAP sees red in LoP Bajwa’s ‘band vajaun wala’ remark

Chandigarh: A political slugfest broke out between incumbent AAP and opposition Congress in Punjab on Sunday over leader of opposition Partap Singh Bajwa's remarks calling PWD minister Harbhajan Singh someone "band vajaun wala" (band member), and whom he said Congress will bring to task, "band vajaavange", when it comes to power.

Terming Bajwa's remarks an insult to dalit community, AAP leader and finance minister Harpal Singh Cheema sought an apology from Bajwa within 24 hours, failing which he warned of "strict action". Later, in the evening, AAP announced that its Punjab ministers, MLAs and leaders of the party, along with party volunteers, will protest outside the residence of Bajwa. The protesters will move from Punjab MLA Hostel, Sector 4, to his residence in Sector 8, Chandigarh at 12pm, AAP said.


Earlier in the day, Punjab Congress hit back at AAP for "attempting to twist facts and misuse the sensitive issue of dalits for political mileage by levelling false allegations against Bajwa".

Speaking during a Congress rally in Jandiala on Friday, Bajwa, while referring to ETO, said, "Jehra pehle band vajaanda reha eda band asin vajaavange. Jinni bhaari lut Harbhajan Singh ne paayi hai, saade kol ik ik cheez di jaankari hai. Jehra mehkama ode kol hai vadde paimaane te lut ho rahi hai. Eh hun band vajaun wala nahi reh gaya eh te hun Punjab da band vajaana shuru kar ditta hai (We will bring this person to task who used to be a band player. We have every detail of the big loot being carried out by Harbhajan Singh. He is no longer a band player. He has now started to hit Punjab's interests)."

Calling Bajwa's remark a "highly unfortunate statement", Cheema said ETO rose out of poverty, cleared the civil services examination through hard work, became an ETO in the Punjab allied services and, with a spirit of social service, resigned from his job to join the Aam Aadmi Party. "The Aam Aadmi Party gave him respect and made him a minister. But today, Pratap Singh Bajwa used extremely derogatory words against him, which is an insult to the entire dalit community."

Hitting back, senior Congress leader and deputy leader of the Congress legislature party (CLP) Aruna Chaudhry condemned "AAP's attempts to create controversy out of a non-issue".

She said, "The people of Punjab, including the dalit community, are politically aware and capable of recognising genuine casteist remarks without needing AAP to act as self-appointed defenders. AAP is rattled because Bajwa is exposing their failures and corruption both inside the assembly and among the public."

Chairman of the Punjab Congress SC Cell, ex-MLA Kuldeep Vaid, said AAP crossed all limits of political decency by falsely accusing Bajwa of making a casteist slur against a cabinet minister. He added, "AAP leaders seem incapable of understanding the difference between a political pun and a casteist slur."

All India Congress Committee (AICC) secretary and former MLA Sukhwinder Singh Danny Bandala stated, "AAP lost its mind by indulging in such desperate tactics."

‘Proud son of band player'

Reacting on Bajwa's remark, Harbhajan Singh ETO told a news channel, "My father used to play band. Even today, I am proud of being son of a band player. My father never did any smuggling nor cheated anyone."