Punjab AAP MLA Kunwar Vijay Photo Credit: HT
In a rare display of intra-party dissent, Punjab AAP MLA Kunwar Vijay Pratap Singh has publicly questioned his own government’s action against Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) leader Bikram Singh Majithia, calling the recent vigilance bureau raid on Majithia’s residence “ethically wrong”. The incident, which has stirred significant political debate across Punjab, has now taken an unexpected turn with a sitting AAP legislator openly challenging the intent and execution of the raid.
Kunwar Vijay, a former IPS officer and currently the MLA from Amritsar North, expressed his concerns via a video statement and on social media. As reported by Hindustan Times, he questioned the timing, manner, and justification behind the high-profile raid conducted by the state vigilance bureau at Majithia’s Chandigarh residence early in the morning. Though he has long been a critic of Majithia’s political role, the AAP legislator made it clear that political rivalry cannot justify what he described as a violation of family dignity and due legal process.
A Voice of Conscience Within AAP
Kunwar Vijay’s statement is particularly significant given his background as a top-ranking police officer and his reputation for clean, principled politics. He raised questions not only about the optics of the raid but also about the state’s inconsistent approach. “When Majithia was previously in jail during the Congress regime, the Mann government neither sought his remand nor challenged his bail. Now, suddenly, an early morning raid is being justified as decisive governance,” he remarked.
His comments hint at deeper concerns within AAP about due process, rule of law, and the use of state machinery for political ends. While he clarified that he continues to support the fight against corruption and drugs, he insisted that it must be pursued within the bounds of fairness and ethics.
Opposition Rallies Around Majithia
Reacting to the raid, opposition leaders from the SAD, Congress, and BJP accused the AAP government of indulging in political vendetta. SAD chief Sukhbir Singh Badal called it an act of “political terror”, while MP Harsimrat Kaur Badal likened it to the tactics used during the Emergency era.
The Congress, too, joined the chorus, with state president Amarinder Singh Raja Warring saying that such theatrics serve no purpose other than media headlines. BJP leaders accused the Mann-led AAP government of using the vigilance bureau as a political weapon instead of a neutral investigative agency.
The Government’s Defence
The Aam Aadmi Party, however, defended its actions robustly. The Chief Minister’s Office and state vigilance officials have maintained that the raid was based on concrete evidence, including alleged links to hawala transactions, benami property deals, and disproportionate assets worth over ₹500 crore linked to Majithia and his associates. Electronic devices, bank documents, and other records were reportedly seized during the operation.
CM Bhagwant Mann stated that the operation was part of a larger campaign to target “big fish” in Punjab’s drug and corruption network and warned that more such actions were in the pipeline.
Between Governance and Grandstanding
Kunwar Vijay’s dissent highlights a critical tension within AAP: the fine line between decisive governance and overreach. While the party came to power in Punjab promising transparency and zero tolerance for corruption, such high-profile raids—especially without immediate legal follow-up—raise questions about intent and timing.
Political analysts believe Kunwar Vijay’s remarks could trigger a broader debate within the AAP about checks and balances. His stance also elevates public discourse by reframing the issue not as a defence of Majithia, but as a call for principled politics, even when dealing with adversaries.
What This Means for Punjab Politics
The fallout from this episode is likely to continue. While AAP projects itself as a reformist force, the voices from within, like that of Kunwar Vijay Pratap Singh, may compel the party to reassess its methods. The incident also emboldens the opposition, giving them a moral and political plank to challenge the Mann government’s crackdown.
As Punjab continues to battle systemic issues like drug trafficking and political corruption, this episode serves as a reminder that transparency must go hand in hand with accountability—even for those in power.
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