Ludhiana, September 19: BJP leader and former Union Minister Ravneet Singh Bittu was detained by Punjab Police on Saturday after protesting near the Punjab Agricultural University (PAU) gate as Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann’s cavalcade passed through the area.
Mann was visiting PAU to attend the ongoing Kisan Mela when Bittu staged the protest. During the demonstration, Bittu held up a liquor bottle towards the Chief Minister’s vehicle, saying he was “returning the bottle”, while also criticising Mann and AAP national convenor Arvind Kejriwal.
The protest came a day after Bittu alleged that his convoy was attacked near Batala during the BJP’sNasha Mukt Punjab Yatra. He claimed protesters threw eggs and tomatoes at the vehicles and damaged some of them.
After Saturday’s protest, Bittu said the BJP would continue to exercise its “democratic right” to protest against the Punjab government and its leaders. He also alleged that police action would not silence the party from raising issues concerning Punjab.
On Friday, Bittu had accused AAP workers of attacking his convoy and alleged police inaction. He claimed protesters surrounded his vehicles, damaged windows and threatened his security personnel. Bittu had sought registration of an FIR into the incident.
