Sukhminderpal Singh Grewal alleges ‘Police State’ in Punjab, condemns detention of Opposition leaders
Babushahi Bureau
Jalandhar (Punjab), March 18, 2026: Senior BJP leader Sukhminderpal Singh Grewal on Tuesday alleged that Punjab is being turned into a “police state” under the leadership of Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann, while condemning the detention of opposition leaders during a protest in Jalandhar.
In a statement shared on social media, Grewal criticised the ruling Aam Aadmi Party, referring to it as the “Anaadi Aadmi Party”, and accused it of adopting “authoritarian and anti-democratic” practices. He alleged that nearly 40 opposition leaders and workers were detained by the Punjab Police while participating in a protest linked to municipal action at a private property in the city.
Among those detained, Grewal claimed, were prominent leaders such as Manoranjan Kalia, Sushil Kumar Rinku, Sheetal Angural, and Darshan Singh Bhagat, along with members from the Bharatiya Janata Party, Indian National Congress, and Shiromani Akali Dal. He alleged that the leaders were taken into custody and kept at a local police station for several hours, while a large number of supporters gathered outside in protest.
Grewal further alleged that the action reflects the government’s intolerance towards dissent and claimed that police machinery is being misused to suppress opposition voices. He also linked the incident to broader concerns of law and order, including crime and drug-related issues in the state.
Raising concerns over media freedom, the BJP leader alleged that action involving the Hind Samachar Group, which publishes newspapers like “Punjab Kesari” and “Jagbani”, amounted to an attempt to intimidate the press. He termed it an attack on independent journalism and democratic institutions.
Calling the situation “alarming”, Grewal urged the state government to refrain from what he described as high-handed actions and demanded accountability. He also asserted that the BJP and other opposition parties would continue to raise their voice on issues concerning democracy and civil liberties.