Ravneet Bittu detained in Ludhiana after protesting near CM Mann's cavalcade
Synopsis
BJP leader Ravneet Bittu staged a symbolic 'bottle return' protest near CM Bhagwant Mann's convoy at Ludhiana's PAU and was detained by Punjab Police — a direct escalation after his own cavalcade was allegedly pelted with eggs and tomatoes near Batala the day before. The incident lays bare a sharpening BJP-AAP street battle in Punjab.
Key Takeaways
Ravneet Singh Bittu was detained by Punjab Police on 19 September in Ludhiana after protesting near CM Bhagwant Mann's cavalcade.
Bittu held up a bottle towards Mann's convoy, saying he was 'returning the bottle' — a retort to the alleged pelting of his own cavalcade with eggs and tomatoes near Batala on 18 September .
The Friday convoy incident occurred during the BJP's Nasha Mukt Punjab Yatra , flagged off by national President Nitin Nabin in Pathankot .
Bittu pardoned all three people apprehended after the alleged Batala pelting.
The BJP has vowed to continue 'peaceful democratic protests' outside the Chief Minister's programmes and offices.
Former Union Minister and Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader Ravneet Singh Bittu was detained by Punjab Police on Saturday, 19 September, after he staged a demonstration near the Punjab Agricultural University (PAU) gate in Ludhiana as Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann's convoy passed through the area. The incident unfolded as Mann arrived at PAU for the Kisan Mela.
The Protest and Its Trigger
Bittu held up a bottle towards the Chief Minister's cavalcade, declaring he was 'returning the bottle' to Mann and asking him to enjoy 'his liquor' while allowing Arvind Kejriwal to 'loot Punjab from Delhi.' The act was a direct provocation tied to the events of the previous day, when Bittu alleged his own convoy was pelted with eggs and tomatoes near Batala town while he was travelling for the BJP's Nasha Mukt Punjab Yatra.
Bittu said the Friday incident caused damage to vehicles in his cavalcade. Despite that, he reportedly pardoned all three people his security team had apprehended after the alleged pelting — an act he framed as magnanimity rather than weakness.
What Bittu Said
Speaking after the protest, Bittu stated: 'Yesterday eggs and tomatoes were thrown at my cavalcade. Today I have returned them. If AAP workers are going to protest against BJP leaders, rallies and yatras, then BJP workers will also exercise their democratic right to protest against the Punjab government and its leaders. We will not remain silent.'
He added: 'This is a clear message to the Punjab government: political opposition cannot be silenced through police action. BJP workers will answer every democratic protest democratically and will continue to stand with the people of Punjab.'
BJP's Broader Political Stance
Bittu stated that the party would continue raising issues concerning Punjab and would organise 'peaceful democratic protests' outside the Chief Minister's programmes and offices whenever required. The protest and subsequent detention come in the backdrop of the BJP's ongoing Nasha Mukt Punjab Yatra, whose flag-off in Pathankot was presided over by BJP national President Nitin Nabin.
This is not the first instance of political friction between the BJP and the ruling Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) in Punjab. Critics argue that both sides have escalated tensions during the yatra period, with each accusing the other of using state machinery and street muscle to disrupt political activity.
Detention and What Happens Next
Punjab Police detained Bittu following his protest. No official statement on the grounds of detention or its duration was immediately available. The BJP is expected to escalate the matter, framing the detention as political suppression — a narrative the party has deployed in several other states where it is in opposition.
The incident is likely to intensify the BJP-AAP standoff in Punjab ahead of the next round of political mobilisation around the Nasha Mukt Yatra.
Point of View
Or whether it will simply be absorbed into the noise of competitive political theatre. Neither party looks concerned about the chilling effect on democratic norms; both appear more interested in the next headline.
NationPress
19 Sept 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Why was Ravneet Singh Bittu detained in Ludhiana?
Bittu was detained by Punjab Police on 19 September after he protested near CM Bhagwant Mann's cavalcade at the Punjab Agricultural University gate in Ludhiana, holding up a bottle as a symbolic gesture. Police detained him following the demonstration.
What was the 'bottle return' protest about?
Bittu held a bottle towards Mann's convoy, saying he was 'returning the bottle' to the Chief Minister — a reference to AAP's alleged links to the liquor policy controversy — while also criticising Kejriwal's influence over Punjab. The act was framed as a retort to the alleged pelting of his own convoy with eggs and tomatoes near Batala the day before.
What happened to Bittu's convoy near Batala on 18 September?
Bittu alleged his convoy was attacked near Batala town on Friday, 18 September, while he was travelling for the BJP's Nasha Mukt Punjab Yatra, with eggs and tomatoes thrown at vehicles in his cavalcade. Despite the incident, he pardoned all three people his security team had detained.
What is the BJP's Nasha Mukt Punjab Yatra?
The Nasha Mukt Punjab Yatra is a BJP-organised campaign focused on the issue of drug abuse in Punjab, flagged off by the party's national President Nitin Nabin in Pathankot. The yatra has become a flashpoint for BJP-AAP political confrontations across the state.
What has the BJP said after Bittu's detention?
The BJP, through Bittu's own statements before his detention, vowed to continue peaceful democratic protests outside the Chief Minister's programmes and offices. The party has framed the detention as an attempt to silence political opposition through police action.
