Punjab Police arrests BJP leader Tajinder Bagga from Delhi
The Punjab Police on Friday arrested Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) spokesperson Tajinder Pal Singh Bagga from his Delhi residence. To recall, Bagga was booked last month for his statements against Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal over his views on the 2022 film The Kashmir Files. A case for making provocative statements, spreading rumors, and trying to create religious and communal enmity was lodged against him.
Why does this story matter?
The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) and the BJP have been at loggerheads, leaving no stone unturned to get the better of the other. Leaders of both parties are often seen trading barbs at each other over various issues. Since winning the 2022 Punjab Assembly elections, the BJP's Delhi unit has called out AAP chief and Delhi CM Kejriwal for "misusing power in the state."
Police punched me in face, claims Bagga's father
Bagga's father, Preetpal Singh Bagga, claimed he was punched in the face when he tried to capture the arrest on video. Preetpal told ANI, "This morning, 10-15 police personnel came to our home and dragged Tajinder out. When I picked up my mobile phone to record a video of the incident, police took me to another room and punched me in the face."
AAP Punjab leader Sunny Singh Ahluwalia filed complaint
Notably, the complaint against Bagga was filed by AAP Punjab leader Sunny Singh Ahluwalia. Ahluwalia had complained that Bagga allegedly threatened Kejriwal during a protest outside the Delhi CM's residence on March 30. The protest was held by BJP members after Kejriwal said the makers of The Kashmir Files should release it on YouTube so that everyone could watch it free of cost.
What was the issue between Kejriwal and Bagga?
In March, BJP MLAs interrupted a Delhi Assembly session, demanding The Kashmir Files be made tax-free. Kejriwal said the BJP should ask makers to upload TKF on YouTube, making it free for all. He also asked the MLAs not to promote the film. Notably, the movie was made tax-free in several states, including Bihar, Madhya Pradesh, Haryana, Uttar Pradesh, Gujarat, Tripura, Goa, and Uttarakhand.
'Some people earning crores in name of Kashmir Pandits'
Speaking about The Kashmir Files in the Assembly on March 24, Kejriwal mockingly said, "Some people are earning crores of rupees in the name of Kashmir Pandits and have given work of sticking posters to the BJP." "[TKF director Vivek Agnihotri] earned crores in the name of Kashmiri Pandits and you were left sticking posters. What are you doing? Open your eyes," he added.
'The Kashmir Files' is painful history, not a lie: Bagga
Later, on March 31, Bagga glued posters—reading, "Listen Kejriwal, the film that you call a lie is a painful part of our history"—outside AAP's office. This came amid protests against Kejriwal for his blatant and "insensitive" remarks on The Kashmir Files. Members of the BJP's youth wing had also protested outside Kejriwal's residence against his "disrespectful" remarks about the "Kashmiri Genocide."
BJP condemns Bagga's arrest
Before arresting Bagga, the Punjab Police informed Delhi's Janakpuri Police station and shared the case details on Friday morning. He will reportedly be taken to Mohali. After Bagga's arrest, BJP leader Kapil Mishra criticized the Punjab Police for its actions. BJP's Naveen Jindal also accused the Aam Adami Party (AAP) of misusing the police. Delhi BJP spokesperson Praveen Shankar Kapoor termed it "political vendetta."
Check out Kapil Mishra's tweet
'Arvind Kejriwal's brazen misuse of Punjab Police': Amit Malviya
Moreover, BJP's IT Department head Amit Malviya accused Kejriwal of "brazen misuse" of power. "Kejriwal's brazen misuse of Punjab Police to target political opponents is not unexpected. He had been raging for this." "But this won't go down well. We will fight to secure every single karyakarta of ours and ensure that Kejriwal learns how to handle power the hard way (sic)," Malviya tweeted.
