The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) on Thursday, 27 August launched a sharp attack on Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) national convener Arvind Kejriwal and Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann, accusing the state government of being 'deeply ingrained in corruption' and holding it responsible for unpaid Dearness Allowance (DA) arrears that have driven over three lakh government employees across Punjab to stage protests.

What Sparked the Protests

According to BJP, Punjab government employees have taken to the streets across multiple districts over the state administration's failure to disburse promised DA arrears. BJP national spokesperson Pradeep Bhandari, addressing a press conference in New Delhi, said more than 30 to 35 per cent of the protesters are women, who are collectively alleging that the government 'has lied to them.' He claimed the AAP government had promised 18 per cent DA to employees but has not cleared the dues.

BJP's Corruption Allegations

Bhandari drew a pointed parallel between AAP's tenure in Delhi and its current governance in Punjab. 'Just like AAP had robbed Delhi, it is doing the same in Punjab,' he alleged. He displayed a video purportedly showing AAP MP Malvinder Singh Kang stating that corruption is taking place in the Mohali Urban Development Authority, arguing that funds meant for employees are being diverted. Bhandari also claimed that Kejriwal has placed a debt of ₹1,23,000 on every individual in Punjab, attributing this to what he described as systemic corruption by AAP leadership.

Vacant Posts and Education Sector Concerns

The BJP spokesperson further alleged that a significant number of posts remain vacant in Punjab's schools, colleges, higher education institutions, and government teacher training institutes. He argued that the combination of unfilled vacancies and withheld DA reflects a broader governance failure. 'This reflects that the corrupt AAP government in Punjab is messing up with the prestige of the state,' Bhandari said.

BJP's Ultimatum and Demands

Bhandari issued a 24-hour ultimatum, stating that if DA arrears are not cleared within that window, it would confirm that AAP has 'attempted to play with Punjab's identity and respect.' He demanded accountability from the Punjab government and directly addressed Kejriwal — whom he referred to as the 'super CM of Punjab' — asking when the pending amounts would be released and calling on him to 'stop his PR stunts.' He also alleged that per capita income in the state is declining as government funds are being used by AAP leaders for personal benefit.

AAP and the Punjab government had not issued a formal response to BJP's allegations at the time of reporting. The protests by state employees are expected to continue until the DA demand is addressed.