Haryana Chief Minister Nayab Singh Saini on Friday asked the AAP government in Punjab to focus on fulfilling the promises made to the people instead of “diverting public attention”. Saini also dismissed as baseless the allegation by MLA Narinder Kaur Bharaj that he had offered her a BJP ticket for the 2027 assembly elections.
Bharaj, the AAP MLA from Sangrur in Punjab, had claimed that she was offered a closed-door meeting by Saini. Rejecting the allegations, Saini told mediapersons in Faridabad on Thursday evening that he neither knew Bharaj nor the constituency she represents. Repeating his stand on Friday, Saini criticised the AAP for making what he called “baseless allegations”.
“It is being alleged that she was contacted under Operation Lotus and offered a ticket. It is also being said that other offers were made along with it. All this is completely baseless,” Saini said. He added that AAP leaders had made similar accusations in the past as well, but without presenting any proof.
In September 2022, a few months after AAP formed its first government in Punjab under Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann, the party had accused the BJP of trying to topple its government through ‘Operation Lotus’. It had claimed that 10 of its MLAs were approached by the BJP.
“The AAP is trying to cover up its failures by diverting public attention,” Saini said. He also accused the AAP of spreading false narratives, first in the national capital and now in Punjab. He said that when AAP was in power in Delhi and now in Punjab, it claimed that government schools and Mohalla Clinics were the best.
Saini said that the promises made by Arvind Kejriwal, the Aam Aadmi Party and Bhagwant Mann to the people of Punjab should be fulfilled. “They should not try to distract people from the real issues,” he said. On being asked about criticism over his frequent visits to Punjab, Saini said he travels there only when invited by the people. He further claimed that people in Punjab feel hurt. He said they had earlier voted for the Congress and later for the AAP, but now feel “betrayed” by both parties.
"Look at the situation in Punjab, be it law and order, employment, paying adequate price to farmers for their produce or the promises made to women, the AAP has not fulfilled even a single promise. The law and order situation, in particular, is such that people are afraid to go out of their homes," the Chief Minister said.
He also targeted AAP national convener Arvind Kejriwal, accusing him of making big promises but failing to deliver. "He (Kejriwal) said that in Punjab, they are giving Rs 20,000 per acre compensation (for crop damage), and in Gujarat, he says that Rs 50,000 per acre is being given. They cannot deceive people like this," Saini said.
On Thursday, the Haryana BJP unit also criticised the AAP. It said the party’s politics is based on “lies, conspiracies and drama”. The BJP added that when it is time to act, the AAP disappears. And when people demand accountability, it creates a new narrative. The remarks were made in response to MLA Bharaj’s allegations.
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