AAP Launches ‘Operation Clean-Up’ in Punjab: Dismissals, Suspensions, and Crackdown on Corruption
Punjab’s ‘Operation Clean-Up’: AAP Targets Corruption Amid Growing Tensions
Following the Aam Aadmi Party’s (AAP) significant defeat in the Delhi Assembly elections, the party has launched a full-scale operation in Punjab to crack down on corruption. With Punjab being the only state where the AAP currently holds power, the party’s actions are seen as crucial to ensuring its survival in the 2027 Assembly elections. This move has been dubbed “Operation Clean-Up,” and it aims to restore accountability and transparency in the state’s police and bureaucracy.
A Major Shake-Up in Punjab’s Police Force
On Wednesday, Punjab’s Director General of Police (DGP), Gaurav Yadav, announced the dismissal of 52 policemen, including inspectors and constables, for being “unfit to serve.” The action followed an investigation into corruption, gross misconduct, and prolonged absences from duty. The dismissals are part of the ongoing efforts to clean up the police force, which has been facing mounting allegations of corruption and inefficiency.
The dismissed officers, according to DGP Yadav, had been found guilty through a detailed process that included assessing their actions and records. “Officials who have FIRs registered against them or have indulged in gross misconduct have no place in the police,” Yadav stated in a press briefing. “They have been found unfit to serve after due process and have been dismissed under Article 311 of the Constitution.”
In addition to these dismissals, nearly 400 more policemen have been identified for further action, pending government approval for addressing higher-ranking officers.
Clean-Up Following the Chief Vigilance Bureau’s Overhaul
This mass dismissal of police officers came just days after the Punjab government replaced the head of the Vigilance Bureau, Varinder Kumar, with G. Nageswara Rao, in response to complaints of inaction on corruption cases. Kumar, a 1993-batch IPS officer, was removed for allegedly failing to act on various corruption complaints, which prompted the need for a major overhaul.
The new chief, G. Nageswara Rao, emphasized a “zero-tolerance policy” on corruption and misconduct within the Punjab government. Rao’s appointment and the subsequent actions reflect the Punjab government’s commitment to rooting out corruption and ensuring greater transparency in the state machinery.
Suspension of Senior Officials
In addition to the mass police dismissals, Punjab’s government took significant action against other public servants. On Monday, IAS officer Rajesh Tripathi, serving as the Deputy Commissioner of Muktsar Sahib, was suspended after serious complaints of corruption emerged. A vigilance inquiry was initiated against Tripathi, signaling the state’s commitment to tackling corruption at all levels of governance.
AAP’s Push for a ‘Model Showcase State’
After the disappointing Delhi election results, AAP leadership, including Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal, held a meeting with Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann and other party leaders. Kejriwal urged the Punjab team to focus on building the state into a “model showcase state,” hoping to secure the party’s success in the 2027 Assembly elections. According to sources, Mann was instructed to work towards making Punjab an exemplary model of governance, with transparency, accountability, and efficiency as its pillars.
Mann subsequently directed his officers to hold themselves to higher standards of accountability, with regular feedback from the public and elected representatives to ensure that officials remain responsive to the people’s needs.
The Opposition’s Allegations of Corruption
While the AAP government in Punjab is making efforts to address corruption, opposition parties are not holding back in their criticism. Partap Singh Bajwa, leader of the opposition, accused the AAP leadership of engaging in corruption itself. In a letter to the Punjab Governor, Bajwa alleged that AAP leaders had misused government machinery to extort funds from officials of the Punjab State Power Corporation Limited (PSPCL).
Bajwa’s claims were supported by the Punjab State Electricity Board Engineers’ Association, who revealed that AAP had been involved in coercive practices to fund the party’s Delhi election campaign. These allegations of misconduct have raised serious concerns over the ethical practices of the ruling party in Punjab, further fueling the opposition’s attacks.
New Initiatives for Police Transparency
In a bid to increase police transparency and improve the efficiency of law enforcement, Punjab is set to introduce a new system for e-registration of FIRs, initially focused on vehicle theft cases. This system, which has been successful in Delhi, will allow citizens to register complaints online, which will be routed directly to the respective district police stations for action.
Additionally, a third-party audit of the police force will be conducted in collaboration with the Indian Police Foundation. The audit will focus on several key aspects of police functioning, such as the registration of complaints, response time, and officer conduct, ensuring a fair assessment of the police’s performance. The pilot project will begin in the districts of Mohali, Fatehgarh Sahib, and Roopnagar.
AAP’s Tough Road Ahead
While the AAP government in Punjab is making significant strides in addressing corruption, the road ahead remains challenging. The party faces accusations of its own involvement in corrupt practices, and the pressure to maintain public trust is mounting. The opposition’s claims and the media’s scrutiny could impact the party’s chances in the upcoming elections.
For now, the party’s focus remains on ensuring a transparent, efficient, and corruption-free administration in Punjab. Whether these measures are enough to win over the electorate and secure another term for AAP in 2027 remains to be seen.