Punjab BJP's Sunil Jakhar protests, calls Development Commission a 'loot centre'
Synopsis
Former Punjab BJP chief Sunil Jakhar took his fight to the Punjab Development Commission's doorstep on Thursday, alleging that Arvind Kejriwal's appointees — paid a collective ₹2 crore a month — have turned a development body into a 'commission for looting Punjab.' The protest marks a sharp escalation of BJP's accountability offensive against the AAP government in Chandigarh.
Key Takeaways
Former Punjab BJP president Sunil Jakhar staged a protest outside the Punjab Development Commission office in Chandigarh on 8 October 2026 .
Jakhar alleged commission appointees are collectively paid around ₹2 crore per month from the state exchequer, in disregard of standard rules.
He accused Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann of 'mortgaging' Punjab to Arvind Kejriwal and labelled the commission a 'centre of loot.' Jakhar claimed the commission conducted 'highly illegal' personal data collection, including drug-related data, which could be misused politically or commercially.
He alleged the commission lacks even a single Punjabi member and has not consulted elected legislators or ministers in its planning process.
Former Punjab Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) president Sunil Jakhar on Thursday, 8 October 2026, staged a protest outside the Punjab Development Commission office in Chandigarh, alleging that the body had been reduced to a 'centre of loot' by sidelining constitutional institutions and undermining the state's legal framework. Jakhar accused the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) government of converting a development body into what he called a 'hub of corruption in Punjab.'
Key Allegations Against the Commission
Speaking to reporters outside the commission's office, Jakhar alleged that Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann had 'mortgaged' Punjab to Arvind Kejriwal, and that Kejriwal had, in turn, outsourced the running of the commission to his own appointees. He claimed these individuals were receiving salaries 'higher than those of senior government officials' and that the commission's appointed personnel were collectively drawing approximately ₹2 crore per month from the state exchequer.
Jakhar alleged that these appointments were made 'in disregard of rules and legal procedures,' effectively transforming what should be a public institution into, as he put it, a 'commission for looting Punjab' rather than one committed to development.
Data Collection Claims and Governance Concerns
Among the more pointed allegations, Jakhar claimed the commission had collected personal data of Punjab residents under 'various pretexts,' including information related to drug use. He described this data-gathering exercise as 'highly illegal,' warning that extensive personal information could potentially be misused for political or commercial purposes.
Notably, Jakhar also alleged that the commission did not have a single Punjabi member with a thorough understanding of local conditions. He further claimed that the body had neither held substantive consultations with Punjab's elected legislators and ministers, nor sought their input while drafting development plans — a procedural lapse he argued makes meaningful development planning impossible.
AAP Government's Functioning Under Fire
Jakhar accused the AAP government of operating like a 'corporation,' with a group of 'non-state actors' allegedly plundering the state while weakening its governance structure. While conceding the academic credentials of the commission's appointees, he argued that their actions were not aligned with Punjab's interests.
This comes amid a broader pattern of political friction between the BJP and AAP in Punjab, with the opposition repeatedly targeting the Mann government over governance and accountability concerns since AAP swept to power in the state.
What Happens Next
The BJP's protest signals an intensification of opposition pressure on the Punjab government ahead of potential legislative sessions. The AAP administration had not issued an immediate formal response to Jakhar's allegations at the time of reporting. Whether the commission's appointment procedures or data practices face independent scrutiny will be closely watched by political observers and civil society groups in the state.
Point of View
If verifiable, would be genuinely damaging; but without documentary evidence or an independent audit, it remains an allegation. More substantive, and harder to dismiss, is the process question: if a development commission is crafting plans without consulting elected representatives, that is a democratic deficit regardless of which party governs. The data collection allegation, if substantiated, carries legal weight under existing privacy frameworks. The AAP government's silence in the immediate aftermath only prolongs the political opening the BJP is exploiting.
NationPress
8 Oct 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What did Sunil Jakhar allege against the Punjab Development Commission?
Sunil Jakhar alleged that the Punjab Development Commission had become a 'centre of loot,' with Kejriwal's appointees drawing around ₹2 crore per month collectively from the state exchequer in violation of rules. He also claimed the body had illegally collected personal data of Punjab residents and excluded elected representatives from development planning.
Why did Sunil Jakhar stage a protest outside the Punjab Development Commission?
Jakhar staged the protest on 8 October 2026 to publicly challenge what he described as large-scale misuse of public resources and sidelining of constitutional institutions by the AAP government. He argued the commission, funded by taxpayers, was functioning as a tool for political appointees rather than serving Punjab's citizens.
What are the allegations related to data collection by the Punjab Development Commission?
Jakhar alleged that the commission collected extensive personal data of Punjab residents, including information related to drug use, under various pretexts. He termed this exercise 'highly illegal' and warned it could be misused for political or commercial purposes.
How does this fit into broader BJP-AAP tensions in Punjab?
The protest is part of an ongoing opposition campaign by the BJP against the AAP government in Punjab since the latter swept to power in the state. The BJP has repeatedly targeted Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann's administration over governance, accountability, and alleged links to Kejriwal's centralised control over state affairs.
Has the AAP government responded to Jakhar's allegations?
The AAP government had not issued a formal response to Jakhar's allegations at the time of reporting. The Punjab Development Commission's functioning and appointment records have not been independently audited in connection with these specific claims.
