AAP's Bhagat Singh Event at PAU Sparks Backlash Over Damaged Sports Ground

A musical evening organised by the Aam Aadmi Party government at Punjab Agricultural University (PAU) in Ludhiana to mark revolutionary Bhagat Singh's birth anniversary has run into a storm of criticism, with students, sportspersons and morning walkers alleging that the university's football and athletics ground was damaged and left littered.

The 'Jashan-e-Inquilab' evening, attended by Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann and headlined by Punjabi singers including Kulwinder Billa and Ranjit Bawa, was held on September 28 at a ground where entry is normally restricted and the facilities are reserved for sportspersons. The government had already been attacked for staging an extravagant musical programme instead of a solemn remembrance; now the anger is over what happened to the venue.

Allegations of damage to the athletics track

According to students, garbage was still scattered across the venue three days after the event, including single-use plastic items such as disposable spoons and plates, and even photos of Bhagat Singh lying on the ground. They allege that dinner for more than 30,000 attendees was served on the athletics track and that a tandoor used for preparing rotis was installed on the track, causing significant damage.

Simranjit Singh Chahal, a PAU journalism student, along with volunteers from SATH Punjab, a student body that takes up social issues, has submitted a memorandum to PAU's officiating vice-chancellor Sukhjeet Pal Singh, urging that university infrastructure not be allotted for political events in future.

“No one remembered Bhagat Singh here; it was all about AAP,” Chahal alleged. “While the ruling party workers fluttered AAP flags, the photos of Bhagat Singh were dumped, and they are now lying in the garbage. Is this how Bhagat Singh would have wanted his birth anniversary remembered? He must be crying in a corner, seeing how badly they have damaged and littered our football and athletics ground.”

Chahal further alleged that some outsiders attended the event intoxicated and that liquor bottle labels were found near the venue, that trees were pruned for the event, and that students — with mid-term exams approaching — had to tolerate loud music for hours from flashy performances by singers.

Morning walkers and students: 'Spare the campus'

Morning walkers who returned to the university after the event said they were shocked. Entry to the sports area normally requires permission even for walkers and cyclists, since professional sportspersons practise there. “Any sportsperson can suffer a grievous injury while running with so much garbage,” Chahal said, pointing to the litter strewn across the running track.

Another student, speaking on condition of anonymity, questioned the university's priorities: the ground sits close to the library and lecture rooms, and students faced heavy police barricading, noise and traffic on the day of the event. “PAU is considered the greenest university not just in Punjab but the entire country, but this event spoiled everything,” the student said, alleging damage to the ground, trees and sports infrastructure.

University says venue was allotted by the deputy commissioner

T S Riar, PAU's additional director (communications) and estate officer, said the university was aware of the ground's condition and the anger among students. The venue, he said, had been allotted on the directions of the Ludhiana deputy commissioner since it was a Punjab government official event, and “all efforts are being made to clear the mess at the earliest.”

Congress slams 'futile' spending

Senior Congress MLA Sukhpal Singh Khaira criticised the government over the event on social media, claiming the state spent Rs 9-10 crore on the celebrations, including top singers, a massive pandal and non-vegetarian food served to VVIP guests such as Arvind Kejriwal and Manish Sisodia. He said Ludhiana was left badly choked, with commuters — and even ambulances carrying serious patients — stuck in traffic jams.

“I am sure the soul of Shaheed Bhagat Singh ji must be cursing these fake revolutionaries for squandering people's money on such a non-productive event besides harassment to commuters and local residents!” Khaira wrote, adding: “What is the point of hanging his picture all around if you don't believe an iota of his ideology?”

AAP Punjab's chief spokespersons Baltej Pannu and Malvinder Kang did not respond to repeated attempts for comment, The Indian Express reported.