Chandigarh, March 13 — Punjab Congress leaders on Thursday raised concerns over the upcoming delimitation exercise, calling it a “threat” to the state’s “traditional existence” and accusing the BJP of using investigative agencies for political vendettas. The remarks were made during a strategy meeting at the party headquarters, Indira Bhawan.
Addressing reporters, Congress leader and MLA Sukhpal Singh Khaira, whose property was recently attached by the Enforcement Directorate (ED), said the BJP was “unleashing political terrorism” against opponents. “The case against me was filed in 2021, but my property was not attached then. Now, as elections approach in 2027, they have taken this step. First, our Punjab in-charge Bhupesh Baghel was targeted, and now they have come after me. This is a message to Congress leaders to stay silent,” he mentioned.
Khaira criticized the ED’s actions as a “gross misuse of agencies” and asserted that Punjab Congress leaders would not be intimidated.
Meanwhile, Leader of Opposition Partap Singh Bajwa said the party also discussed the Centre’s delimitation plan. “A committee will be formed to examine the implications, and we will take up the issue at the national level,” he stated.
Bajwa argued that Punjab would suffer under the proposed formula due to its adherence to family planning policies. “We controlled our birth rate, and now we will lose seats in proportion to other states,” he said. He also accused the BJP of sidelining Punjab’s contributions. “Our identity was ‘Jai Jawan, Jai Kisan.’ First, they halted recruitment for soldiers, then ignored farmers, and now they are closing our international borders,” he stated.
Calling the delimitation plan a “conspiracy” to weaken Punjab’s political standing, Bajwa warned, “All Punjab leaders will stand united against this move. The BJP will not be allowed to implement its agenda here.”
