Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) legislator Kulwant Singh on Tuesday launched a strong counterattack against opposition parties, accusing them of deliberately misleading the public regarding the ongoing demolition of illegal constructions in Mohali. The MLA asserted that the entire action is being carried out strictly under the directives of the Punjab and Haryana High Court.
MLA Visits Protest Site, Offers Clarification
Singh visited Phase 11 in Mohali, where a section of riot victims and local shopkeepers were holding a protest against the demolition drive. Interacting with the media at the site, the AAP representative sought to set the record straight on the controversial issue.
He clarified that the High Court had directed the relevant authorities to remove illegal structures in accordance with the established policy of the Greater Mohali Area Development Authority (GMADA). The MLA emphatically stated that the demolition orders were neither issued by the AAP nor by the Punjab government led by Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann.
Political Mileage Allegation Against Opposition
Singh did not mince words when alleging the motives behind the opposition's stance. He claimed that some leaders from rival political parties were visiting protest sites solely to gain political mileage ahead of crucial elections.
"These opposition leaders are deliberately misrepresenting the court's directions to create confusion and anger among the people," Singh alleged. He implied that the opposition was exploiting the situation for its own benefit, rather than presenting the factual legal position to the affected citizens.
The Core Issue: Court Directives vs. Political Narrative
The central point of contention, as outlined by the AAP MLA, is the origin of the demolition orders. By distancing his party and the state government from the decision, Singh aimed to shift the focus onto the judiciary's role. The attempt is to frame the narrative around compliance with legal mandates, rather than it being a voluntary administrative crackdown by the ruling dispensation.
This incident highlights the ongoing tension in Punjab's political landscape, where urban development and illegal encroachments often become flashpoints. The protests by shopkeepers and riot victims in Phase 11 underscore the real human impact of such enforcement drives, which political entities then seek to channel for their objectives.
The coming days will reveal whether this clarification from the AAP MLA assuages the concerns of the protesters or if the opposition manages to sustain its campaign against the demolition actions in Mohali.
