A controversy has erupted over an alleged statement by Chandigarh BJP president Jatinder Pal Malhotra at a sports function that was seen as derogatory toward the Punjabi community.
Malhotra claimed his comments were misinterpreted. However, opposition leaders, including BJP’s former senior deputy mayor and councillor Kuljit Singh Sandhu, condemned the remark and sought Malhotra’s resignation as party president.
Sandhu, BJP councillor from Ward No. 14, released a video from Australia, where he is on a personal visit. He alleged that Malhotra called Punjabis “emotional bloody fools”. Sandhu called the statement shameful and urged Prime Minister Narendra Modi to take immediate notice. He also demanded Malhotra’s resignation.
Chandigarh Congress president HS Lucky demanded that Malhotra apologise and withdraw the statement. Charanjit Singh Villy, president of the Shiromani Akali Dal’s (SAD) Chandigarh unit, said it was disheartening to hear such remarks from a senior leader. He demanded an unconditional apology from Malhotra to the people of Chandigarh and Punjab.
Congress workers, led by councillor Sachin Galav, protested outside the BJP office. The Aam Aadmi Party’s (AAP) Chandigarh unit demanded Malhotra’s immediate removal for the alleged derogatory remarks against Punjabis. The party warned that if the BJP leadership fails to act within 24 hours, AAP Chandigarh will gherao the BJP office and launch a public movement.
Malhotra denied the allegations. He said his statement was misinterpreted and that he was referring to himself at the function, not Punjabis. “I never used the word ‘fool’ for Punjabis. I used it for myself. Even if anyone felt hurt by my comments, I am sorry,” he said. Malhotra added that Punjabis are emotional, which is why they gave 92 Assembly seats to AAP in Punjab. He accused the Congress of circulating clipped videos and doing politics over it, and said the Congress had done nothing for society. On the video released by the BJP councillor against him, he called it an internal matter and said he would look into it separately.
