Day before open debate, AAP govt says public not allowed, gags media

After daring the opposition leaders – state BJP chief Sunil Jakhar, Punjab Congress chief Amrinder Singh Raja Warring and Leader of Opposition Partap Singh Bajwa, and SAD chief Sukhbir Singh Badal — Mann had invited the public to witness the debate. However, a senior official had internally said, the government is now fearing that if a huge number of people descend on Ludhiana, it would be difficult for the police to manage the crowd.

To discuss the same, the CM had called an emergency meeting at his residence on Tuesday, which was attended by Chief Secretary Anurag Verma, DGP Gaurav Yadav, Intelligence chief Varinder Kumar, Secretary to Chief Minister Ravi Bhagat, Water Resources Secretary Krishan Kumar.

A government functionary privy to the discussions said, “The Dr Manmohan Singh auditorium at Punjab Agricultural University (PAU) in Ludhiana has a seating capacity of around 1,200 people and cannot accommodate all Punjabis willing to attend. So the CM said that the debate will be telecast live on TV channels for all to see.”

He added that there was also an intelligence input that a free-for-all-entry may create law and order problem for the police. “In the meeting, specific inputs were mentioned that some people would try to create trouble for the government. Hence, it was decided that the public would not be allowed to enter the PAU gates,” he said, adding that several buses will be kept on stand by to handle the situation if people turn up.

Meanwhile, an official from Ludhiana district administration said that majority of journalists won’t be allowed inside the debate venue at PAU and would instead be provided “live online link” to cover the event. “Only a select TV channels will be allowed to go inside the auditorium. This is as per the directions we have received from the CMO,” he added.

When contacted AAP chief spokesperson Malwinder Singh Kang said, “Invite has been sent by the CM to the leaders of political parties on X (formerly Twitter). Now let us see how these politicians respond to the invite. We will make live telecast of this debate and all Punjabis can see it..debate will be between the political parties’ leaders only.”

Asked that the CM had extended an open invitation to the Punjabis as well to watch the debate, Kang said, “I don’t know about it..” Sources said that to ensure that there was no security issue, as many as 2,000 police personnel have been assigned in Ludhiana. Besides, there would be two DGPs, including Gaurav Yadav and DGP (law and order) Armpit Shukla and eight SSPs and other officers.

Several academicians, scholars and experts have been invited to witness the debate in the auditorium. Eminent poet Surjit Patar has also been invited. The CM had said that PAU faculty member Dr Nirmal Jaura would anchoring the debate.

However, government sources said that they were not sure if Opposition leaders would be participating or not as they had not received confirmation from any leader. Sources said that the political leaders were trying to check as to what time should they reach the venue.

Sources added that the CM had prepared to take up at least 20 issues in the debate. He had taken a power point presentation from water resources department on Tuesday as he was preparing to elaborate on the issue of SYL since the year 1955.

Also, several other issues such as debt and finances, unemployment, power subsidy are on the CM’s list of discussion.