3 weeks ago
Protesters disrupt Punjab Congress meet with 'Baghel go back' chants
Inside a big political group called the Congress party, there is a lot of arguing.
A meeting was held in a city called Ludhiana in the state of Punjab, India, to plan for the next state elections.
During the meeting, some people shouted 'go back' at their own leaders, Bhupesh Baghel and Amrinder Singh Raja Warring.
Some even wore T-shirts with the words 'Baghel Go Back' on them.
The leaders said the protesters were breaking the party's rules.
Mr. Warring called the protesters 'RSS agents' and said he had helped some of them in the past when they were questioned by the police.
Mr. Baghel said there will be zero tolerance for people who misbehave at party events.
There was even a small pushing match between supporters of the leaders and the protesters.
Another leader, Mr. Bains, said he has a recording of senior party leaders asking him to make sure Mr. Warring lost a previous election.
All these fights show that people inside the same party often do not agree, and the party wants to look united before the next state elections.
An organisational meeting of the Punjab Congress at Guru Nanak Bhawan in Ludhiana was disrupted by 'go back' slogans against Bhupesh Baghel and Amrinder Singh Raja Warring.
Protesters, some wearing 'Baghel Go Back' T-shirts, raised slogans like 'Ashu zindabad' and 'Channi zindabad', and a brief scuffle broke out before Ashu's supporters stormed out of the venue.
Warring called the disruptors 'RSS stooges' and 'RSS agents', saying he had helped some of them, including Ashu, when they were hounded by the state vigilance bureau.
Baghel declared a 'zero tolerance' policy for indiscipline and vowed to identify and act against 'sleeper cells' and 'internal saboteurs' within the party.
Former MLA Simarjit Singh Bains claimed senior Congress leaders had called him during the 2024 Lok Sabha polls to ensure Warring lost, and said he has audio he may release.
The incident underscores persistent factionalism in the Punjab Congress ahead of the 2027 assembly elections, including a Channi-led faction opposing Warring's retention as state president.
- Who
- AICC Punjab in-charge Bhupesh Baghel and state president Amrinder Singh Raja Warring faced protests from supporters of former minister Bharat Bhushan Ashu, a backer of Charanjit Singh Channi.
- What
- An organisational meeting to review preparations for the 2027 Punjab assembly elections was disrupted by 'Baghel go back' slogans and T-shirts, leading to a brief scuffle and the protesters storming out.
- Where
- Guru Nanak Bhawan, Ludhiana, Punjab.
- When
- On a Thursday in August 2026, weeks after the party's July 1 leadership decision to retain Warring as state president.
- Why
- Persistent factionalism within the Punjab Congress ahead of the 2027 assembly elections, with a section of leaders led by Channi opposing Warring's retention as state president.
Party leadership
Dissident members
Handling of internal dissent
Party leadership
Warring and Baghel say disruptive behaviour is indiscipline that will be met with zero tolerance. Warring dismisses the protesters as 'RSS agents' and 'RSS stooges' working at the behest of the saffron organisation, and says the Congress belongs to everyone, not any one leader.
Dissident members
Protesters allege the party leadership disregards internal dissent and raised slogans such as 'Ashu zindabad' and 'Channi zindabad' during the meeting, clashing with the state president's supporters.
Leadership changes
Party leadership
The July 1 decision to retain Warring as state president and appoint Channi as campaign committee chairperson was presented as strengthening organisational unity, with Baghel saying the programme was being run on the instructions of Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge and Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi.
Dissident members
A faction led by Channi opposed retaining Warring as Punjab Congress president and sought his removal from the position, with some wanting Channi as state unit chief and CM face for the 2027 polls.
Key facts
- Event
- Punjab Congress organisational meeting under the 'Har Booth, Congress Mazboot' programme
- Venue
- Guru Nanak Bhawan, Ludhiana
- Key agenda
- Preparations for the 2027 Punjab assembly elections
- Protest slogans
- 'Baghel Go Back', 'Ashu zindabad', 'Channi zindabad'
- Leadership decision (July 1)
- Warring retained as state president; Channi appointed campaign committee chairperson
- Baghel's pledge
- 'Zero tolerance' for indiscipline; action against 'sleeper cells' and 'internal saboteurs'
- Outcome
- Ashu's supporters stormed out of the venue; the party said the two-hour programme went off well
- Bains's claim
- Senior Congress leaders called him during the 2024 Lok Sabha polls to ensure Warring lost; says he has audio to release
Quotes
Amrinder Singh Raja Warring
Punjab Congress state chief who led the rally
“"They told me…Warring di manji thok de Bains, jittan nahi dena (Don’t let him win). I have the audio and I will release it very soon."”
indianexpress.com
“"RSS ke chamchon baahar jaao (RSS stooges move out)."”
indianexpress.com
Sources
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