Ludhiana: Protesters from the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) youth wing attacked the house of industrialist and Rajya Sabha MP Rajinder Gupta on Saturday, spray-painting "Gaddar (traitor)" across his property following his high-profile defection to the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP).
Demonstration Turns Aggressive
The demonstration, held 24 hours after Gupta's departure from the party that governs Punjab, escalated as activists burned an effigy of the MP outside his gates. Despite a heavy police presence, protesters were permitted to use spray cans to brand the walls of his estate.
Betrayal of Trust
Parminder Goldy, acting president of AAP's Punjab youth wing, led the rally and accused the BJP of conspiring to destabilise the party through political poaching. "The people of Punjab will never forgive this betrayal of trust," Goldy said. "The BJP is deeply unsettled by Arvind Kejriwal's politics of development and governance. Every AAP worker stands firmly with the party leadership."
Goldy stated that those who "betray the trust of Punjab" would face public accountability, eventually.
Political Implications
Gupta's move to the BJP is seen as a significant blow to AAP in the region, given his dual status as a prominent legislator and a leading figure in India's industrial sector. The police deployment at the residence failed to prevent the defacement of the property, raising questions regarding the instructions given to security forces during the protest. Gupta was unavailable for comment at the time of publication.
