Bharatiya Janata Party stalwart Ravneet Singh Bittu was taken into custody by Ludhiana police on Saturday after he hurled eggs, tomatoes and a liquor bottle at Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann’s convoy as it passed the Punjab Agricultural University gate. His protest, aimed at the CM’s march through the city, sparked a brief scuffle before officers intervened.
The incident follows Bittu’s own claim that a day earlier, a convoy of his party’s members was pelted with stones, eggs and other projectiles by an estimated 100 AAP workers near Batala. He said a window pane of two escort vehicles shattered and a jammer vehicle sustained damage, while local police allegedly watched the attack unfold without intervening.
Bittu warned that “their job is to try to suppress anyone who raises their voice,” adding that he would personally stand in front of the CM’s convoy to protect his party’s interests. He vowed, “I will take on Bhagwant Mann myself; no BJP worker will stand in front of the Chief Minister alone.”
BJP national spokesperson Sudhanshu Trivedi blasted Mann and AAP, calling the parties “intoxicated by authority” and accusing them of plunging Punjab’s youth into drug addiction. He described the alleged attack as a “dirtiest manifestation” of the AAP government’s panic.
Ludhiana police have opened an inquiry into the alleged assault on Bittu’s convoy, with investigators expected to file charges soon. The case will be heard in the district court, and Bittu’s detention is set to be reviewed by the magistrate next week.