Behind AAP govt’s ‘extreme step’, internal feedback on BJP making inroads in villages

Multiple sources in the AAP said that the “extreme step” was taken after a feedback that the BJP was reaching out to farmers under the guise of registering members of Scheduled Caste community for various Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT) schemes of the Union government. “Our cadre has been telling us that BJP has been organising these camps for last two months. We did not take it seriously. Now, we have learnt that they are not reviewing the Central government’s schemes but trying to catch the attention of farmers. Their entry is being allowed by the village residents,” said a senior leader of AAP.

Sources said that the BJP cadres, who were not being allowed in the villages since 2020, when the agitation against the now-repealed three farm laws ensued, rode piggyback on the protests against the land pooling policy to enter these villages. “First, they targeted the SC population. Now, they are targeting the farmers. The BJP leaders have now feeling that they can make inroads in these villages,” the leader said.

The AAP government, earlier this month withdrew the Land Pooling Policy-2025 following sustained protests by the farmer bodies and the Opposition parties. All Opposition parties, including the BJP, Congress and the SAD, had claimed credit for the rollback.

Punjab AAP spokesperson Neel Garg said it is the state government that implements the central schemes. “A State would never stop any such effort by the Centre. However, here a political party is collecting personal data. Why should that be allowed in the era of cyber crimes. People tell us that their cell phones are taken, OTPs are received on their cell phones and used. We have received many such complaints from the people. Why should anyone be allowed to do that? The government has Suvidha Centres to help the residents. They are authorised. But BJP does not want a system to work. They want individuals from their party to go and meet people. They are seeking Aadhaar details of the people. Why should that be allowed? Why have they not organised such camps before? Why such camps are not organised in other states like Haryana and other BJP ruled states?”

A BJP leader told The Indian Express that they have been holding such camps across the country. “These are just the reviews of central schemes. Also, in the process, the party is preparing its next rung of leadership. If youths will not go and meet people, how will they turn into leaders?” he asked, adding that the party will continue with its outreach. “Anybody can carry out any political activity in the state,” he added.

While the AAP and BJP are sparring over the issue, a ruling party leader said the government was playing with fire. “Nobody is recalling that during Covid outbreak, AAP was supplying free Oxymeters to people when Congress was ruling the state. The then government had not stopped the AAP by using force. The then Chief Minister Capt Amarinder Singh had countered AAP with Fateh-kits for the Covid patients,” he said.