CHANDIGARH, June 8 — Punjab Finance Minister Harpal Singh Cheema said Sunday that the public completely rejected the Bharatiya Janata Party during a weekend rally led by Haryana Chief Minister Nayab Singh Saini in Dhuri. The senior Aam Aadmi Party leader stated that a lack of attendance at the political event demonstrates the state’s deep-seated opposition to the party’s platform and history.
The political gathering, intended to build regional momentum, reportedly drew sparse crowds, which Cheema characterized as an unambiguous sign from the electorate.
“The people of Punjab have shown the BJP its true reflection through the Dhuri rally,” Cheema asserted, describing the visible lines of unoccupied seats facing the speakers. “The Haryana Chief Minister came to Punjab to address a public meeting, but instead of people, he was welcomed by rows of empty chairs.”
According to the finance minister, the cool reception stems from unresolved grievances surrounding past agricultural policies. Cheema associated the party directly with the deaths of hundreds of protesters during the national demonstrations against proposed agricultural overhauls.
“Every child in Punjab knows that the Bharatiya Janata Party is the same cruel party that, in its arrogance, was responsible for the sacrifice of more than 750 annadatas of Punjab,” Cheema declared, referencing the farmers who died during the prolonged demonstrations against the three canceled farm laws. He added that the state’s residents can neither overlook the casualties nor excuse the administration’s past actions.
The AAP leadership further maintained that federal policies under the current establishment systematically target the economic stability and natural resources of the region.
“The BJP is not only anti-farmer but also anti-Punjab,” Cheema declared. “This is the same party that has always wanted to rob Punjab of its waters and has constantly remained on the lookout to snatch away Punjab’s rights.”
Cheema concluded that the local population remains unified against political strategies centered on division, noting that the state continues to favor economic progress and social harmony over federal interference.
