CHANDIGARH, MAY 28 — Aam Aadmi Party Punjab State Media In-Charge Baltej Pannu on Wednesday denounced the conduct of Union Minister Ravneet Singh Bittu during the Dhuri municipal elections, calling his actions a shameful reflection of political arrogance.
Speaking at a press conference, Pannu stated that the Bharatiya Janata Party leader violated election regulations by remaining in the constituency after the campaigning period ended. He noted that Bittu, who is neither a resident nor a registered voter in Dhuri, obstructed law enforcement personnel and interfered with official election duties.
The media head related that video footage showed the federal minister grabbing the collar of a Sikh police employee on duty and using derogatory language against the personnel. He affirmed that the state government, led by Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann, stands resolutely behind the state police department against attempts to demoralize its ranks.
“I watched the video several times since morning and still could not believe that a Union Minister could stoop to such a level merely for media headlines,” Pannu asserted.
The Sangrur district police force is currently commanded by Senior Superintendent of Police Navjot Kaur Grewal. Pannu declared that Bittu issued open threats to the female officer, making casteist remarks and crossing lines of public decency. He noted that the state force has a history of overcoming terrorism and is currently engaged in extensive anti-narcotics operations.
Pannu also addressed Bittu’s family connections to the same law enforcement body, recalling that the minister’s brother was previously recruited into the state police on compassionate grounds during a prior administration. He asserted that regulations regarding age limits and educational qualifications were modified at that time to accommodate the appointment.
Turning to broader security issues, the AAP official suggested that the federal minister should focus on narcotics seizures at ports in Gujarat rather than criticizing local authorities. He stated that the local police force ranks among the most effective in the country for maintaining order.
“If this act was committed unintentionally, then Ravneet Singh Bittu should immediately and unconditionally apologise to Punjab Police, the woman officer and the parents of those police personnel,” Pannu declared.
