Congress holds statewide protests over arrest of Tanda worker; Targets AAP Govt
Babushahi Bureau
Chandigarh, June 6, 2026: The Punjab Congress on Friday staged protests across the state against the arrest of a party worker in Hoshiarpur district, alleging that the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) government was using police action to suppress political dissent.
The protests were organised in support of Congress worker Arshdeep Singh of Tanda, who was arrested over allegations of "disrespecting" the AAP's election symbol, the broom.
As part of the demonstrations, Congress workers in several districts symbolically dismantled brooms to register their protest against the arrest.
Punjab Congress President Amarinder Singh Raja Warring strongly criticised the action, describing it as "authoritarian" and "dictatorial". He alleged that the arrest reflected the ruling party's intolerance towards political opposition and criticism.
Warring said the government acted swiftly against a political worker over a symbolic protest but had failed to deliver justice in cases related to the sacrilege of the Guru Granth Sahib despite being in power for more than four years. He recalled the AAP's earlier promises of taking prompt action in sacrilege-related cases and questioned the government's record on the issue.
The Congress leader thanked party workers for participating in the statewide demonstrations and expressing solidarity with Arshdeep Singh. He claimed that the government's response to the incident reflected growing political insecurity within the ruling party.
Warring further asserted that the symbolic dismantling of brooms was a form of democratic protest and warned that public dissatisfaction with the government was increasing. He alleged that attempts to curb opposition voices through police action would not prevent voters from expressing their verdict in future elections.
The protests remained largely peaceful, with Congress leaders and workers gathering at various locations across Punjab to voice their opposition to the arrest and demand the withdrawal of the case against the party worker.