Punjab BJP chief Dhillon's convoy attacked by AAP workers

CHANDIGARH, (IANS): The convoy of Punjab Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) President Kewal Singh Dhillon was allegedly attacked by workers of the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) on Thursday, but he and other senior party leaders escaped unhurt. 

The attack took place when Dhillon was on his way to Toor Banjara village in Dirba in Sangrur district to offer condolences to the family of Gulzar Singh, who had allegedly died by suicide after being allegedly distressed by the state government.

He was accompanied in the vehicle by BJP National Vice-President Manpreet Singh Badal, former State Presidents Sunil Jakhar and Ashwani Sharma.

Dhillon said in a statement that the tenure of the Aam Aadmi Party had turned into a rule of hooliganism, where no one was safe.

He noted that today AAP workers stopped and attacked his vehicle.

"This was not an attack on me, but an attack on democracy," Dhillon was quoted as saying.

He said he was going with senior leaders of BJP to raise his voice for justice for Gulzar Singh's family, but on the way AAP workers, allegedly acting at the behest of their "masters" in Delhi, surrounded his vehicle.

He added that even more shocking was the fact that the police administration stood just 100 metres ahead and watched the entire incident as a mute spectator.

"The (AAP) government is attempting to silence not only the voice of the people but also that of the Opposition. The Aam Aadmi Party has resorted to politics of 'saam, daam, dand, bhed'."

The State BJP Chief said that the Aam Aadmi Party had crossed all limits of oppression and that its end was now near.

"The self-respecting people of Punjab are ready to give a befitting reply to this high-handedness."

He said the BJP would not be intimidated by such attacks by the AAP government and would firmly confront every act of high-handedness by the Punjab government.

During their return journey to Chandigarh, the route of Dhillon and the accompanying BJP leaders was also blocked by AAP workers.

However, Dhillon and the other BJP leaders got out of their vehicles, proceeded towards the road blocked by the AAP workers, and crossed the route on foot along with the convoy, the statement added.