Raja Warring condemns Barnala police action, to move High Court over alleged rights violations
Babushahi Bureau
Chandigarh, July 24, 2026: Punjab Congress president Amarinder Singh Raja Warring on Friday strongly criticised Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann over the police action against protesting safai karamcharis in Barnala, accusing the AAP government of arrogance and insensitivity.
Referring to the AAP’s election symbol, the broom, Warring said it was ironic that “the same hands that once held the broom were broken by the police.” He questioned the Chief Minister’s silence over the incident and asked whether he was ashamed of the alleged police excesses.
The Punjab Pradesh Congress Committee (PPCC) chief announced that he would file a petition in the Punjab and Haryana High Court, alleging that the police action amounted to serious human rights violations against the safai karamcharis.
Warring further alleged that the Punjab Police had used excessive force not only against sanitation workers but also against students, electricians, farmers and MGNREGA workers during protests.
Demanding accountability, he urged the Chief Minister to apologise to the sanitation workers and take strict action against the police personnel responsible for the alleged assault.
He also questioned the silence of Punjab State Scheduled Castes Commission Chairman Jasvir Singh Garhi, saying the commission should have intervened to protect the rights of the safai karamcharis. Warring challenged Garhi to initiate action against the police officers involved if he was genuinely concerned about the welfare of the community.