Harpal Singh Cheema condemns BJP violence against Punjab University students, supports peaceful protests, and challenges BJP leaders to respect Punjab’s rights.
Harpal Singh Cheema, a senior Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) politician and Punjab Finance Minister, strongly denounced the violence committed against Punjab University (PU) students by the central Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) administration . Speaking at a news conference here, he charged that the BJP harbored animosity toward Punjab and Punjabis and was working to destabilize the state in order to drag it back into a dark era.
Using Alexander as a historical example, the finance minister sent the BJP a severe warning, saying that everytime Punjab has been assaulted, Punjabis have responded with devastating force. He also urged Punjab BJP leaders to visit Punjab University and offer an apology to the students as a sign of their dedication to the welfare of the state.
‘ਕੇਂਦਰ ਦੀ ਭਾਜਪਾ ਸਰਕਾਰ ਪੰਜਾਬ ਯੂਨੀਵਰਸਿਟੀ ਨੂੰ ਲੁੱਟਣ ਦੀ ਕਰ ਰਹੀ ਕੋਸ਼ਿਸ਼, ਲਾਠੀਚਾਰਜ ਕਰਵਾ ਕੇ ਪੈਦਾ ਕਰਨਾ ਚਾਹੁੰਦੀ ਹੈ ਦਹਿਸ਼ਤ ਦਾ ਮਾਹੌਲ’
–@HarpalCheemaMLA
ਕੈਬਨਿਟ ਮੰਤਰੀ pic.twitter.com/NYULPQ9A5k— AAP Punjab (@AAPPunjab) November 10, 2025
The Finance Minister claimed that the BJP is always plotting to upset the mood of the state by disparaging Punjabis’ rights, interests, and feelings. He pointed to a series of events, such as the implementation of the three contentious farm laws—which the Modi administration was eventually compelled to revoke as a result of nonviolent protests by Punjabis—the subsequent assault on Punjabi honor over the Bhakra Beas Management Board (BBMB) controversy, and the current attack on Punjab University. According to him, the only goal of such acts is to rekindle a “bloody game” within the state. He asserted that the BJP would fail to plant the seeds of enmity in Punjab, the land of saints and gurus.
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The attempts to weaken the university’s democratic system were specifically described by Cabinet Minister Cheema, who pointed out that the BJP initially announced the Senate’s abolishment but later withdrew it in response to strong resistance. He went on to say that the BJP now plans to apply its “vote-stealing formula” at the universities as well after postponing the Senate elections for two years.
The police lathi-charge at female students who were peacefully protesting to seek the release of the date for the long-delayed Senate elections caused the AAP leader to express profound distress. He emphasized the closure of all roads from Punjab to Chandigarh in an effort to stop peaceful protests against the BJP’s “heinous act.” The Minister described how the students were humiliated during the police action, with young men’s and women’s clothing being mistreated and turbans being disregarded.
Cheema reminded the country of the spirit of Punjabis, who have never oppressed anyone but have always raced to help others in times of need, whether it is during crises in other nations around the world or natural disasters in Gujarat. Invoking the 1962, 1965, and 1971 wars as well as current crises, he emphasized that Punjabis have always suffered setbacks and valiantly faced the country’s adversaries. He questioned whether this significant contribution will be returned with such hate by the BJP-led Central Government.
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Senior AAP leader Harpal Singh Cheema reaffirmed the party’s steadfast support for the students at Punjab University, saying that party leaders had met with the students to offer support, including party MPs Malvinder Singh Kang, a former Senate member, and Gurmeet Singh Meet Hayer. He declared that the AAP would not permit the BJP to succeed in its effort to undermine the state’s hard-won peace or this prestigious University of Punjab. In closing, he made a direct challenge to the Punjab BJP leaders, asking them to either behave honorably and support the PU students or keep bowing their heads to maintain their positions.