Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann has strongly criticized BJP leader Parvesh Verma’s recent statement about vehicles with Punjab license plates in Delhi. Verma, the BJP candidate for the New Delhi assembly seat, had questioned the presence of these vehicles ahead of the Delhi elections, which he said could pose a security threat. Bhagwant Mann called the remarks “extremely insulting” and “extremely painful” to Punjabis, accusing Verma of attempting to undermine the integrity of people from Punjab.
Taking to social media platform X, Mann condemned Verma’s comments, stating that Delhi, as the national capital, welcomes people from all states. He argued that Verma’s statement wrongly portrayed Punjabis as a security threat merely because their vehicles were seen in Delhi. “Listen to this statement of BJP. This is extremely dangerous, worrying, and insulting to Punjabis. They are marking vehicles with Punjab number plates and asking why vehicles from Punjab are roaming in Delhi. They are saying as if Punjabis are a threat to the security of the country. This is extremely insulting to me and every Punjabi in the country,” Mann wrote.
The Punjab CM expressed that this accusation was not just an attack on the people of Punjab but also an attack on their patriotism. “Today, every Punjabi is feeling extremely pained and insulted. It is not right to question the patriotism of Punjabis in this way for your dirty politics,” he added. Mann emphasized that such remarks are damaging to the unity and pride of the Punjabi community across India.
In addition to targeting Verma’s comments, Mann also took a swipe at Union Home Minister Amit Shah, accusing him of hypocrisy. Mann criticized the BJP government for its failure to secure the country’s borders and manage the influx of foreign nationals. “Amit Shah ji, you are neither able to keep the country’s border safe nor Delhi. So many thousands of Bangladeshis and Rohingyas are coming to the country, don’t you have a problem with them? But you are calling the Punjabis coming from Punjab to Delhi a threat to the country. You should apologize to the Punjabis,” Mann said, further fueling the political controversy.
Verma had raised concerns about the large number of vehicles with Punjab registration numbers seen in Delhi ahead of the upcoming assembly elections. In a statement earlier this week, Verma questioned why such vehicles were coming to Delhi, speculating on their potential to compromise the city’s security during Republic Day preparations. “Punjab CM, all the ministers and MLAs of Punjab have come here only for the New Delhi constituency. Thousands of vehicles having Punjab numbers are moving here—who are the people in those vehicles? What big thing are those people going to do that may compromise our security?” Verma said.
The comments from both leaders come as Delhi prepares for its assembly elections on February 5, with votes to be counted on February 8. As the political temperature rises, the dispute over these remarks adds a new layer to the already intense competition between the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) and BJP for the capital’s vote.
Mann’s sharp response underscores the ongoing tension between the two parties and highlights the political sensitivities in Delhi ahead of the crucial elections. With such allegations and counter-accusations, the contest in New Delhi and across the city seems poised for a dramatic final run-up.
