Punjab Police Withdraws Security Cover of Harbhajan Singh After BJP Switch

The Punjab Police has withdrawn the state-provided security cover of Rajya Sabha MP Harbhajan Singh, shortly after his defection from the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) to the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), according to sources cited by PTI.

Security Withdrawal and CRPF Deployment

• Singh’s Punjab Police security detail reportedly consisted of around 9–10 personnel, stationed at his residence in Jalandhar’s Chhotti Baradari area.
• The security cover was withdrawn on Saturday, a day after his political switch.
• On Sunday, Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) personnel were seen deployed outside his residence, indicating a shift from state to central security arrangements.

Political Shift: AAP to BJP

Harbhajan Singh is among seven Rajya Sabha MPs who recently left AAP and joined the BJP. The group includes:

• Raghav Chadha
• Sandeep Pathak
• Ashok Mittal
• Rajinder Gupta
• Swati Maliwal
• Vikramjit Sahney
• Harbhajan Singh

The leaders reportedly joined BJP as a merged faction, rather than individual defectors.

Reasons Behind the Exit

Raghav Chadha stated that the AAP had “strayed from its founding principles and values,” prompting the decision to leave. The group framed their move as ideological rather than opportunistic.

Protests and Public Reaction

• AAP workers staged protests outside the residences of some defecting MPs, including Harbhajan Singh.
• In cities like Ludhiana and Jalandhar, protesters allegedly wrote “Gaddar” (traitor) on their walls.
• The protests reflect significant grassroots anger within AAP’s Punjab base.

Response from Punjab Government

Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann strongly criticized the defectors:

• He labeled them “gaddars” and accused them of betraying public trust.
• Mann alleged that the BJP is attempting to destabilize AAP in Punjab.
• He also linked the political tensions to the state government’s firm stance on religious sacrilege (“beadbi”) laws, suggesting BJP discomfort with these policies.

Political Implications

This development could have wider consequences:

• AAP’s strength in the Rajya Sabha may weaken, depending on how the merger is legally treated.
• BJP could gain strategic influence in Punjab, where it has traditionally had limited independent strength.
• The switch may trigger further political polarization and realignment ahead of upcoming elections.

Key Takeaways

• Harbhajan Singh lost Punjab Police security but now has CRPF cover.
• The move follows a major political shift of 7 AAP MPs to BJP.
• The incident has sparked political backlash, protests, and strong reactions from AAP leadership.
• It signals a potentially significant shift in Punjab’s political landscape.