AAP Punjab MLA Dhaliwal slams BJP over treatment of Punjabis, cites Daler Mehndi, Diljit incidents
Synopsis
AAP Punjab MLA Kuldeep Singh Dhaliwal has called out the BJP for what he alleges is a deliberate pattern of disrespect toward Punjabis — from a singer insulted at a BJP event in Uttarakhand, to a global Punjabi star blocked from performing in Delhi, to a sitting Chief Minister reportedly humiliated at an airport. The triple allegation sharpens AAP's identity-and-culture offensive against the ruling party at the Centre.
Key Takeaways
AAP Punjab MLA Kuldeep Singh Dhaliwal on 22 October 2026 accused the BJP of sustained hostility toward Punjab and Punjabis.
He alleged that a Uttarakhand minister and a BJP leader insulted singer Daler Mehndi at a programme in Uttarakhand.
Diljit Dosanjh's Delhi concert, initially set for 1 November , was reportedly asked to be rescheduled; clearance for the alternative date of 30 October was also denied.
Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann was allegedly humiliated at the Delhi airport over excess baggage on his return from France .
Dhaliwal questioned whether Diljit Dosanjh was being targeted because of his Sikh identity and Punjabi background .
The BJP had not officially responded to the specific allegations at the time of reporting.
Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) Punjab MLA Kuldeep Singh Dhaliwal on Thursday, 22 October 2026, launched a sharp attack on the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), accusing the ruling party at the Centre of displaying a pattern of hostility towards Punjab and Punjabis. Dhaliwal cited three specific incidents — the alleged insult of singer Daler Mehndi at an event in Uttarakhand, the denial of permissions for Diljit Dosanjh's scheduled concert in Delhi, and the reported humiliation of Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann at a Delhi airport — as evidence of what he described as the BJP's 'narrow and divisive thinking'.
The Daler Mehndi Incident
Dhaliwal alleged that a Uttarakhand minister and a BJP leader had insulted celebrated Punjabi singer Daler Mehndi during a programme in the state. He described the conduct as 'deeply condemnable', arguing that an artist of Mehndi's global stature deserved respect, not disrespect. According to Dhaliwal, the episode exposed the BJP's attitude towards Punjab's people and cultural identity.
Diljit Dosanjh's Delhi Concert Controversy
The AAP MLA also raised the issue surrounding Diljit Dosanjh's planned concert in Delhi, originally scheduled for 1 November. Dhaliwal said the singer had secured the necessary permissions, but was subsequently asked to change the date owing to the historical significance of 1 November in Delhi — a reference widely understood to relate to the 1984 anti-Sikh riots anniversary. When Dosanjh sought clearance for the proposed alternative date of 30 October, that too was reportedly denied.
Dhaliwal questioned whether Dosanjh was being singled out because of his Sikh identity and Punjabi background, noting that the singer had performed before global audiences without facing comparable restrictions. He said the developments in Delhi were 'particularly troubling'.
CM Mann's Airport Incident
Dhaliwal also condemned the treatment allegedly meted out to Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann upon his return from France at the Delhi airport. He claimed the Chief Minister was 'deliberately humiliated' under the pretext of carrying excess baggage. Dhaliwal questioned the logic of the action, pointing out that baggage weight is ordinarily verified at the point of departure and that any excess should have been flagged in France rather than on arrival.
He argued that the episode reflected a troubling pattern in the Centre's attitude towards a Chief Minister who, in AAP's view, consistently advocates for Punjab and its residents.
BJP's Response and the Broader Political Context
Dhaliwal said the BJP, despite leading the government at the Centre, had 'repeatedly demonstrated a discriminatory attitude' towards Punjabis and minority communities. His remarks were addressed to the media in Chandigarh. This comes amid ongoing political friction between the AAP-led Punjab government and the Centre, with the two sides frequently clashing over administrative and jurisdictional matters. The BJP had not issued an official response to these specific allegations at the time of reporting.
With assembly politics in Punjab remaining deeply contested, Dhaliwal's broadside signals that AAP intends to keep Punjabi cultural and political pride at the centre of its narrative heading into the next electoral cycle.
Point of View
But the three incidents he cited are each real and verifiable — which gives the charge more traction than a generic allegation. The Diljit Dosanjh concert row is the most politically potent: blocking a globally beloved Punjabi artist in the national capital, in the week before 1 November, carries unmistakable optics. The BJP faces a communications problem here — even if each administrative decision had a procedural justification, the cumulative optics of singling out Sikh and Punjabi public figures play directly into AAP's preferred narrative of a Centre hostile to Punjab. With no BJP rebuttal on record, the story gets to run on AAP's framing alone.
NationPress
22 Oct 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Why is AAP Punjab attacking the BJP over its treatment of Punjabis?
AAP Punjab MLA Kuldeep Singh Dhaliwal accused the BJP of a pattern of disrespect toward Punjabis, citing three specific incidents: the alleged insult of singer Daler Mehndi at a BJP event in Uttarakhand, the denial of concert permissions for Diljit Dosanjh in Delhi, and the reported humiliation of Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann at the Delhi airport.
What happened with Diljit Dosanjh's Delhi concert?
Diljit Dosanjh's concert was originally scheduled for 1 November in Delhi, but he was reportedly asked to change the date due to the historical significance of that day. When he sought clearance for the alternative date of 30 October, that permission was also reportedly denied, prompting AAP to allege that Dosanjh was being targeted for his Sikh identity and Punjabi background.
What was the Daler Mehndi incident in Uttarakhand?
According to Dhaliwal, a Uttarakhand minister and a BJP leader allegedly insulted renowned Punjabi singer Daler Mehndi during a programme in Uttarakhand. The AAP MLA described the conduct as 'deeply condemnable' and said it reflected the BJP's attitude toward Punjab's culture and people.
How was Punjab CM Bhagwant Mann allegedly treated at the Delhi airport?
AAP MLA Dhaliwal claimed that Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann was deliberately humiliated at the Delhi airport upon his return from France, under the pretext of carrying excess baggage. Dhaliwal argued that baggage weight is checked at the point of departure and should have been flagged in France, not on arrival in Delhi.
Has the BJP responded to AAP's allegations?
The BJP had not issued an official response to these specific allegations at the time of reporting. AAP's charges were made by MLA Kuldeep Singh Dhaliwal at a media address in Chandigarh on 22 October 2026.
