Raja Warring leads black-flag protest against CM Mann in Zira; Congress workers stopped by police
Zira, September 6, 2026: Punjab Pradesh Congress Committee president Amarinder Singh Raja Warring, accompanied by former MLA Kulbir Singh Zira and hundreds of party workers, led a black-flag protest in Zira on Sunday against Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann.
The protesters, many of whom wore black bands around their turbans and carried black flags, marched towards the venue of the Chief Minister’s programme, raising slogans against Mann and the Punjab Police. The Congress said the protest was aimed at expressing solidarity with Mohanjit Sheron, who, according to the party, was allegedly subjected to police excesses during a similar protest a few days ago.
Police had erected barricades along the route and deployed a large number of personnel to prevent the protesters from reaching the venue. Warring appealed to the party workers to maintain restraint and avoid confrontation with the police, saying the personnel were performing their duty.
Addressing the protesters, Warring said he had met Mohanjit Sheron on Saturday and had announced that the Congress would organise black-flag protests wherever Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann visits. He said Sunday’s demonstration marked the beginning of the campaign and that he had personally led the first protest.
Warring alleged that the Mann government had disregarded democratic norms and questioned the police action against what he described as a peaceful and symbolic protest. He said black flags had been shown to several Chief Ministers, Prime Ministers and Presidents in the past, but alleged that the present government had responded disproportionately.
The PCC chief also challenged the government to register as many cases as it wished against Congress workers for staging the protest, asserting that such demonstrations would continue at future programmes of the Chief Minister. He further claimed that the political countdown of the Mann government had begun.
Warring also criticised the alleged induction of a gangster into the Aam Aadmi Party, claiming that the move could encourage the entry of people with criminal backgrounds into electoral politics. He questioned what message such a decision would send to the public and warned against promoting what he termed a “gangster culture” in politics.
He alleged that such a trend could encourage criminals to first indulge in intimidation, extortion and other unlawful activities and subsequently enter politics in an attempt to erase their past. Warring expressed confidence that voters in Zira would reject any such candidate in the Assembly elections.
The Congress protest remained focused on the Chief Minister’s visit, police action against earlier protesters and the party’s opposition to the alleged induction of a gangster into the AAP.