Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) on Friday, 18 September launched sharp attacks on the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) government in Punjab after Ravneet Singh Bittu, former Minister of State and BJP leader, alleged that his convoy was attacked near Batala while he was travelling to Pathankot for the launch of the party's 'Nasha Mukt Punjab Yatra'. Both opposition parties accused the AAP administration of orchestrating the incident to deflect public attention from the state's deepening drug crisis.

The Alleged Attack

Bittu claimed his cavalcade came under attack as it made its way toward Pathankot to participate in the BJP's anti-drug campaign launch. He alleged the assault was pre-planned, directly implicating AAP leaders and certain police officers. 'The way they attacked us was all planned. It is the Aam Aadmi Party and some police officers,' he said, adding that the Punjab Police's inaction left him deeply disappointed. 'My head hangs in shame because I have always considered the Punjab Police to be a very brave force,' Bittu remarked.

BJP's Allegations Against the Punjab Government

BJP spokesperson RP Singh squarely blamed the state government, alleging it 'got Ravneet Bittu attacked' to prevent the party from running a drug-free campaign in the state. 'The Punjab government is scared. It does not want our party to run a drug-free campaign there,' he said. Singh further accused the AAP government of a complete breakdown of law and order, arguing the attack was 'aimed at diverting people's attention from the drug issue in the state.'

BJP MP Sudhanshu Trivedi, addressing a press conference, escalated the rhetoric further: 'I believe the people of Punjab will soon shatter the intoxicated approach of those in power. This is because they have drowned the youth of Punjab in drug addiction.'

SAD Backs Criticism, Demands Probe

SAD leader Bikram Singh Majithia warned the ruling party against what he called acts of cowardice. 'The Aam Aadmi Party people are rattled. I would tell them not to attack from hiding, but come out in the open. Do not indulge in such cowardly acts,' Majithia said.

SAD leader Daljeet Singh Cheema took a more measured tone, calling for an investigation while underlining the democratic right to campaign. 'All parties have the right, especially during election time, to travel anywhere in the state and campaign. Such a situation should not arise,' Cheema said. He added that allegations pointing to ruling-party involvement effectively amounted to an admission of defeat by the AAP government.

Context: The Drug Crisis and Political Tensions in Punjab

The incident unfolds against a charged political backdrop in Punjab, where drug addiction among the state's youth has remained a persistent and deeply contested issue across successive governments. The BJP's 'Nasha Mukt Punjab Yatra' — the launch of which Bittu was travelling to attend — is explicitly framed as a challenge to the AAP administration's record on the issue. Notably, this is not the first time convoy or campaigning incidents have escalated into political flashpoints in the state, reflecting the intensifying competition for ground-level influence ahead of future electoral cycles.

The AAP government in Punjab is yet to issue an official response to the allegations as of Friday evening. Independent verification of the sequence of events surrounding the alleged attack remains pending.