Day after BJP move, ‘Gaddar’ painted on Harbhajan Singh’s residence

Protests erupted outside the residence of Harbhajan Singh in Punjab’s Jalandhar a day after his exit from the Aam Aadmi Party and move towards the Bharatiya Janata Party. Party workers gathered outside his bungalow, spraying “gaddar” (traitor) in black paint on the compound walls and staging demonstrations wearing black blindfolds.

Harbhajan Singh, a Rajya Sabha MP elected in 2022, was reportedly not present at his residence during the protest as he was engaged in IPL-related commitments. The demonstration follows a major political shift where seven AAP Rajya Sabha MPs, led by Raghav Chadha, announced their departure from the party.

The developments have intensified tensions within the AAP, with Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann describing the exiting MPs as “gaddars” and alleging attempts to weaken the party. The merger process of the MPs into the BJP is expected to be formalised soon, pending approval from the Rajya Sabha Chairman.

The episode marks a significant escalation in political friction ahead of upcoming electoral battles, with the fallout from the high-profile exits continuing to trigger protests and sharp reactions on the ground.