The arrest of Delhi BJP spokesperson Tajinder Pal Singh Bagga by the Punjab Police early on Friday has sparked a tussle between the BJP and AAP.
Bagga has been highly vocal against Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal on social media. He came under fire from the AAP, which is ruling both Delhi and Punjab, for a tweet against Kejriwal over The Kashmir Files movie. Last month, the Punjab Police booked Bagga on the charges of making provocative statements, promoting enmity and criminal intimidation. The case was registered on a complaint of a resident of Mohali.
According to reports, the convoy of Punjab Police that was carrying Bagga to Mohali was stopped by the Haryana Police near a toll plaza in Kurukshetra district. Meanwhile, the Delhi Police registered a kidnapping case over the arrest of Bagga. Delhi BJP spokesperson Gaurav Goel tweeted “Haryana Police has intercepted the vehicles carrying Tajinder Singh Bagga illegally.”
The Punjab Police claimed it had followed “due process of law” while arresting Tajinder Pal Singh Bagga from his residence in Janakpuri. The Punjab Police said it had served five notices to Bagga to join the investigation, but he did not cooperate.
Following his arrest, BJP workers held protests in Janakpuri.
Delhi BJP unit chief Adesh Gupta alleged the arrest of Bagga was the handiwork of AAP chief Arvind Kejriwal. Gupta was quoted by ANI as saying “Tajinder Bagga illegally detained by Punjab Police. They didn't allow him to even wear his turban. Complaint filed over manhandling of Tajinder Bagga by his father. Kejriwal's Hitler-like act will cost him. Punjab Police acting on directions of Kejriwal.”
BJP Delhi spokesperson Naveen Kumar Jindal tweeted “Punjab Police did not arrest @TajinderBagga
and took him away, but kidnapped him and did not even spare the old man who was beaten up with his father, he was punched in the face.”
