Sukhbir Badal supports journalists protest, condemns AAP’s ‘false FIRs’
Babushahi Bureau
Chandigarh, January 4, 2026:Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) president Sukhbir Singh Badal on Sunday expressed solidarity with journalists and RTI activists protesting against what he termed as false cases registered by the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) government.
Visiting the dharna site in Sector 17, Chandigarh, Badal urged the people of Punjab to fight the alleged injustice “tooth and nail.”
Addressing the protesters, Badal assured journalists of the SAD’s full support, saying the party would stand by them at every step.
“The AAP government believes it can browbeat Punjabis through intimidation, but Punjabis have always stood up against injustice and will unite against this government as well,” he said.
The SAD chief asserted that the issue had now become a people’s movement, claiming that journalists and RTI activists were being targeted for exposing the alleged misuse of Punjab’s resources by AAP national convener Arvind Kejriwal.
He said the SAD had also filed RTI applications regarding the alleged misuse of the state helicopter, but the government had consistently refused to share information.
Badal alleged that Kejriwal was “looting Punjab like the East India Company” by using state resources for political campaigning across the country.
He claimed that aircraft with large seating capacity were being frequently booked for Kejriwal’s travel, with Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann included in the entourage to ensure that expenses were borne by the Punjab government.
He further alleged that Punjab officials were routinely summoned to Delhi for instructions and that AAP workers were attached to ministers at government expense.
Highlighting government expenditure, Badal said that while the SAD government spent ₹30–35 crore annually on advertisements, the AAP government was spending over ₹1,000 crore per year, with total spending reportedly touching ₹4,500 crore so far. “Never before in Punjab’s history has so much public money been spent on self-promotion,” he alleged.
Referring to the registration of cases against opposition leaders, including senior SAD leader Parambans Singh Romana, Badal claimed that a retired CBI officer had been empowered to direct the registration of FIRs and even dictate the sections to be applied. He alleged that police officers who did not comply faced suspension.
Concluding his address, Badal said the Shiromani Akali Dal had always respected the media and upheld press freedom. “Former Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal stood firmly for freedom of the press. In contrast, AAP leaders are resorting to intimidation by filing cases against anyone who dares to question them,” he said.