Anti-Dalit mindset: AAP slams Congress leaders' remarks on Punjab Cabinet minister

The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) government in Punjab on Sunday lashed out at Congress leaders Pratap Singh Bajwa and Amrinder Singh Raja Warring, accusing them of making objectionable remarks against Cabinet Minister Harbhajan Singh ETO and insulting the Dalit community.

A major row erupted after Bajwa allegedly mocked ETO by referring to his past as a "band performer". Tensions rose further when Punjab Congress president Warring was accused of issuing a veiled threat against the Dalit minister, allegedly using the phrase "twisting his neck".

The remarks sparked strong reactions from the ruling AAP, which termed them insulting and unacceptable.

The Punjab unit of AAP issued a sharp response on social media, sharing Harbhajan Singh ETO’s remarks and accusing the Congress leadership of targeting leaders from humble backgrounds.

The party alleged that derogatory comments about ETO’s family background reflected an "anti-Dalit" mindset and demanded an apology from Bajwa within 24 hours, warning of legal action if he failed to do so.

Speaking to reporters, Harbhajan Singh ETO, described the episode as deeply distressing. "It has come as a great mental trauma to me. The insult has not only struck me hard, but also my family, my community and the whole working class,” he said.

"They cannot digest the fact that a boy from a humble background, whose father was a band performer in weddings and that he got educated and became a minister in the Punjab government," he added.

ETO further alleged that derogatory language was used against Dalits in the Legislative Assembly. "In the Legislative Assembly, they called Dalit people a 'material', which, as we know, can be bought or sold right?" he said.

He maintained that such remarks showed disregard for marginalised communities. He also claimed that poor people joining the AAP were allegedly targeted with hostile language during political discourse.

Finance Minister Harpal Singh Cheema said the alleged remarks were "an insult to the entire Dalit community".

He highlighted ETO’s journey from poverty to public office, stating that he cleared the civil service examination through hard work, served as an excise and taxation officer, and later resigned to join AAP before being made a minister.

Cheema accused Congress leaders of repeatedly targeting Dalit ministers and discouraging hardworking youngsters.

State Forest Minister Lal Chand Kataruchak echoed the criticism, claiming that Bajwa had previously made remarks against leaders from working-class and Dalit backgrounds.

AAP leader Baltej Pannu also condemned the alleged language, saying it reflected "hatred" toward the Dalit community and amounted to personal attacks on ETO’s upbringing.

Senior AAP leaders collectively accused sections of the Congress of harbouring prejudice against Scheduled Caste communities and using disrespectful rhetoric in public rallies.

They said the controversy was not merely political but raised broader concerns about social equality and respect for individuals who rise through merit and hard work.

The ruling party maintained that such comments undermine the dignity of marginalised communities and vowed to pursue strict action if an apology was not issued, calling the incident a serious affront to Punjab’s social fabric.