Chandigarh, Apr 15 (PTI) Senior Congress leader Partap Singh Bajwa was on Tuesday quizzed for around six hours by police in connection with an FIR registered against him over his “50 bombs have reached Punjab” statement.

After coming out of the Cyber Crime Police Station in Punjab’s Mohali at around 8 pm, Bajwa termed his questioning as a “sustained interrogation” and said his targeting by the state’s AAP government was “political vendetta”.

Bajwa, the Leader of the Opposition in the Punjab Assembly, also said calling him to the police station was an “insult” to the constitutional post he holds and alleged that Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann could not “digest” that he expressed concern over the current law and order situation in the state.

The case against Bajwa was registered after an interview with a private television channel in which he claimed, “I have come to know that 50 bombs have reached Punjab. Of this, 18 have exploded, 32 are yet to go off.” On Tuesday evening after his questioning by the police cyber crime team, Bajwa told reporters: “A sustained interrogation took place. I responded strongly and I am ready if they need me again. I was continuously questioned for six hours.” When asked if he would be called again for questioning, Bajwa said he shared everything and now it is up to the police to decide the next steps. “We will keep fighting for Punjab,” he added.

Referring to the period of militancy in Punjab, Bajwa said the state has “suffered” due to bad law and order situation in the past.

The case against Bajwa saw the Congress party rallying behind him and party leaders and workers staged a sit-in outside the police station.

Even national leaders, including Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge and Leader of the Opposition in Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi, were in regular touch with the state leadership and were closely monitoring the situation, said state unit leaders.

Bajwa later addressed party workers, who were staging a sit-in outside the police station during the questioning.

The LoP said if Mann had any objection to his statement, then he should have called him up and sought information from him about his statement. “But such arrogance to use the police.” Bajwa exhorted the party workers who had turned up to express support to him to fight to “save” Punjab and advised them to stay united.

“The Congress has a very good leadership. After winning the elections (2027 assembly polls) whoever is chosen, we will accept him as our leader. I give you my promise,” he said.

Later, Bajwa posted on X, “Truth has prevailed! Thank you to all Congress workers and leaders for your unwavering stand and fearless support. Your courage in the face of adversity is an inspiration. Today’s victory is yours’ and a win for every voice that stands for justice.” Earlier in the day, Punjab Congress leaders including the party’s rank and file accompanied Bajwa to the police station.

While only Bajwa and his counsel were allowed inside the police station, party leaders and workers staged a sit-in outside the building and raised slogans against the AAP government.

After he came out of the police station six hours later, Punjab Congress chief Amrinder Singh Raja Warring, Congress MP Sukhjinder Singh Randhawa and other leaders welcomed Bajwa.

Bajwa has been booked under Sections 197(1)(d) (false and misleading information that endangers the country’s sovereignty and unity) and 353(2) (false statements intended to create enmity and hatred or ill will) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita.

Shiromani Akali Dal president Sukhbir Singh Badal also condemned the registration of the case against Bajwa.

Lashing out at the AAP government over the law and order situation, Badal said, “Even the Leader of Opposition, @Partap_Sbajwa, is being intimidated with false cases. We condemn attempts to suppress the opposition’s voice by registering false cases against them or subjecting them to repeated police questioning.” Speaking to the media at the party’s state unit headquarters here, Punjab Congress chief Warring targeted the AAP government over the “deteriorating” law and order situation and claimed that there was a “jungle raj” in the state.

He said the Punjab Police was functioning as a “puppet” and “misusing” its powers.

“Daily incidents of loot and murders are taking place in the state. Hand grenades are being hurled,” he said. Instead of improving law and order, the government is taking action against opposition leaders, he added.

Warring said the information on bombs that Bajwa was being quizzed over was taken from a newspaper report.

Before heading to Mohali for the questioning on Tuesday, Bajwa interacted with the media in Chandigarh.

“Today, every Punjabi is worried. Blasts are taking place and people are getting extortion calls,” Bajwa said.

Replying to Mann’s swipe at him that he has hired lawyers for the case against him, Bajwa said it was his democratic right and asked whether AAP leaders Arvind Kejriwal and Manish Sisodia came out of Tihar Jail without the help of lawyers.

The Congress leader also said that he could get a copy of the FIR only after approaching the court.

Asserting that he was not scared of Mann, Bajwa said, “I want to say that if I remain alive, then you (Mann) be prepared”. PTI CHS SUN SKY SKY