Ahead of the upcoming Delhi Assembly elections on February 5, Punjab Police has withdrawn the additional security assigned to Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) leader Arvind Kejriwal. The move comes just days before the elections, with results scheduled to be announced on February 8.
Punjab’s Director General of Police (DGP) Gaurav Yadav confirmed the development on Thursday, stating that the decision followed instructions from both the Delhi Police and the Election Commission. Yadav explained that while the Punjab Police regularly receives reports of potential threats to both Kejriwal and Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann, the decision to withdraw the security component was based on directives from the concerned authorities.
“We receive reports from time to time about threats to the chief ministers, and we share them with the appropriate agencies. Today, following directions from the Delhi Police and the Election Commission, we have withdrawn the Punjab Police personnel assigned to protect Kejriwal ji,” Yadav told reporters in Patiala. He added that Punjab Police would continue to stay in touch with Delhi Police and share any relevant security inputs.
The timing of this decision is noteworthy, as Kejriwal is a key figure in the Delhi elections and is under Z-plus security, typically reserved for high-profile politicians. This security detail includes a team of 63 personnel, including close protection officers, a pilot, search units, and 15 members of the Central Armed Police Force (CAPF).
Meanwhile, Kejriwal raised concerns over his security earlier on Thursday, alleging an attack on his car in the Hari Nagar area of Delhi. In a post on social media platform X, Kejriwal claimed that the Delhi Police allowed supporters of rival candidates to enter his public meeting and subsequently attacked his vehicle. He also accused Home Minister Amit Shah of orchestrating the incident, saying, “All this is happening on the orders of Amit Shah. He has turned the Delhi Police into the personal army of the BJP.”
This incident adds to growing tensions surrounding Kejriwal’s security. On January 18, during a campaign in New Delhi, someone struck Kejriwal’s car with a stone, an act that the AAP blamed on the BJP. The BJP, however, countered by claiming that the car hit two of their workers.
In light of ongoing security concerns, Kejriwal had previously expressed that while reports suggested a potential threat from pro-Khalistan groups, he remained undeterred, stating that “God will protect him” and that his life would last as long as fate allowed.
The Punjab Police’s decision to pull back additional security adds another layer of uncertainty to an already tense pre-election period. With the Delhi Assembly elections just around the corner, the security of political leaders like Kejriwal remains a key issue as tensions rise ahead of the crucial vote.
