Baltej Pannu releases photos, accuses SAD of conspiracy against Bhagwant Mann

Punjab Newsline | Chandigarh

The political controversy surrounding an audio recording involving Amar Deep Singh and the foreign travel of Guri Chahal intensified on Thursday, with the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) hitting back at the Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD).

AAP leader Baltej Pannu addressed a press conference and released eight photographs while questioning the allegations being raised by the SAD against Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann and his family members.

The development came after a SAD delegation, led by party president Sukhbir Singh Badal, met Punjab Governor Gulab Chand Kataria and sought an investigation into the matter.

During the press conference, Pannu displayed photographs that he claimed showed Amar Deep Singh Grewal with senior BJP leaders, including JP Nadda, Manjinder Singh Sirsa and Ravneet Singh Bittu. He also referred to photographs purportedly showing Grewal during Nadda’s election campaign.

Pannu also released photographs of Guri Chahal with SAD leaders, including Bikram Singh Majithia, Harsimrat Kaur Badal and Sukhbir Singh Badal. He further displayed a photograph of a person identified as Hundal.

Alleging that a conspiracy was being hatched against Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann, Pannu questioned the SAD’s allegations and its decision to approach the Governor.

“Those for whom you are raising questions and meeting the Governor are the same people who are standing alongside you and posing for photographs,” Pannu alleged.

He further accused the opposition of attempting to use the issue against members of the Chief Minister’s family and alleged political coordination between the SAD and BJP.

Pannu also targeted the previous SAD-BJP government, referring to the period between 2007 and 2017. He made several allegations regarding the rise of gangsters, kidnappings and alleged links between criminals and the political establishment during that period.

The allegations made by Pannu and the SAD could not be independently verified. The controversy is likely to escalate further, with both sides trading accusations over the issue.