Recently, the Aam Aadmi Party suspended Amritsar North MLA and former IPS officer Kunwar Vijay Pratap Singh from the party for 5 years. This decision was taken by the party’s political affairs committee. Kunwar is accused of anti-party activities and raising questions about the vigilance action against Shiromani Akali Dal leader Bikram Singh Majithia. On June 25, Kunwar had said that when he was in jail in 2022, the Bhagwant Mann government neither questioned him nor sought his remand, due to which Majithia got bail. He also said that raiding someone’s house in the early hours of the morning is against moral principles.
This decision of the AAP party has created a stir in Punjab politics, as Kunwar Vijay Pratap Singh was an officer who played a key role in the investigation of the 2015 Sri Guru Granth Sahib Ji sacrilege and Kotkapura firing cases, which paved the way for AAP’s return to power in 2022.
Reason for Kunwar Vijay Pratap Singh’s suspension
AAP spokesperson Neil Garg said that Kunwar was suspended on charges of violating political etiquette by engaging in anti-party activities and making public statements. Garg said that the entire Punjab supports the Vigilance action against Majithia. He raised the question that if Kunwar had any objection about it, he could have expressed his views on the party’s internal platform.
Kunwar’s response: Question on the existence of the party
In response to the suspension, Kunwar Vijay Pratap Singh said that I will respond after 5 years. If the party does not exist, then who expelled me? All the big leaders including party supremo Kejriwal have already lost the elections. The party is no more.” He alleged that the party did not issue him any notice before the suspension nor did it give him a chance to clean up.
Recalling his IPS job, Kunwar said that he had left the job despite having 9 years of service left for the rights and truth of Punjab. He said that my fight will continue inside and outside the Vidhan Sabha. Justice has not been done in the Bargari case yet. The main accused confessed to the crime, but former Delhi Chief Minister Kejriwal and Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann were more hurt by it.” He alleged in an interview to a private channel that Kejriwal and Mann have made a deal with the culprits of sacrilege cases, which is known to the entire Punjab. Kunwar also said that during the elections, his photo and 25 years of reputation of honesty were used by the party to seek votes, but after coming to power, he was sidelined. He also questioned the entry of gangsters and mafia in the party and said that they cannot share the stage with such people. Also, he termed the government’s campaign against drugs as a “drama” and said that the party’s very existence has ended.
Political and professional journey of Kunwar Vijay Pratap Singh
Kunwar Vijay Pratap Singh, a former IPS officer of Punjab cadre, had set many milestones in his political and professional life. A native of Gopalganj district in Bihar, Kunwar did his Masters in Sanskrit from Patna University and Political Science from Indira Gandhi National Open University (IGNOU). He did his PhD in Police Administration from Guru Nanak Dev University (GNDU) in Amritsar, his LLB from Panjab University, and his MBA from IGNOU. Recently, he also did a Diploma in French Language from GNDU. Kunwar became the Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) of Amritsar in 2007 and held the post till 2009. In 2015, he rose to the rank of Deputy Inspector General (DIG) and in 2019, Inspector General (IG). In 2021, he was promoted to IPS. He decided to quit his job and join the AAP party. In the 2022 Punjab Assembly elections, he was elected MLA from Amritsar North, where he defeated sitting Congress MLA Sunil Dutti.
Kunwar’s role in AAP’s political comeback in Punjab
Kunwar Vijay Pratap Singh played a key role in the investigation into the 2015 Sri Guru Granth Sahib sacrilege and Kotkapura firing cases. AAP suffered a defeat in the 2019 Lok Sabha elections, when the party’s vote share dropped to just 7.38% and only Bhagwant Mann won from Sangrur. The party’s deposit was forfeited in most of the seats. AAP, which had become the main opposition party by winning 20 seats in 2017, had lost most of its big names by 2018. The party split after Sukhpal Singh Khaira was removed from the post of Leader of Opposition. In the 2019 by-elections, AAP’s vote share had shrunk to 5%, while Khaira-led Punjab Democratic Alliance and BSP had secured 10.77% votes. AAP’s comeback came in 2021, when the Punjab and Haryana High Court quashed Kunwar’s SIT probe into the Kotkapura firing case. Although he was only ordered to probe the Kotkapura case, he also made comments on sacrilege cases and questioned the government in his interactions with the media. After the probe was quashed, he resigned and raised questions on the Captain government, especially over the role of the Advocate General’s office. AAP took advantage of this political turmoil and played a big bet by inducting Kunwar into the party. Hoardings of his involvement
