BATHINDA — Celebrations for India’s Independence Day turned dramatic in Bathinda on Friday as a public altercation erupted on stage between Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) MLA Jagroop Singh Gill and Punjab Cricket Association (PCA) President Amarjit Mehta.
The high-voltage confrontation, which quickly escalated from a heated verbal exchange into a physical tussle, unfolded in full view of the media, local dignitaries, and citizens gathered at the Sports Stadium. Cabinet Minister Hardeep Singh Mundian was present on the stage when the incident occurred.
Public Showdown Leads to Ministerial Intervention
According to eyewitnesses and accounts from the venue, the atmosphere grew tense when MLA Gill and Amarjit Mehta came face-to-face over an undisclosed matter. What began as a sharp disagreement quickly spiraled into a direct confrontation on stage, causing immediate discomfiture among attendees and dignitaries.
With the situation threatening to spiral further out of hand in front of media personnel and public onlookers, Cabinet Minister Hardeep Singh Mundian stepped in to defuse the crisis. The minister physically intervened, escorted both figures away from the immediate public eye, and successfully restored calm, allowing the remainder of the official ceremony to proceed.
Deepening Local Tussle
Political observers note that the clash is the latest manifestation of a long-standing, bitter rivalry between MLA Jagroop Singh Gill and the Mehta family over regional and political issues in Bathinda.
Tensions between the two camps have reportedly intensified following local political realignments, most notably marked by Amarjit Mehta’s son, Padmajit Mehta, stepping into office as the Mayor of the Bathinda Municipal Corporation. While local politics in the region have frequently been colored by factional friction, carrying the dispute onto a public stage during a major state-level government function has brought underlying fractures back into the sharpest possible focus.
Official Silence Maintained
As of reporting time, neither MLA Jagroop Singh Gill nor Amarjit Mehta has released a formal, detailed statement addressing the specific trigger behind the on-stage altercation.
Despite the lack of official explanations from either side, the public nature of the incident has sent ripples through local political circles, reigniting discussions regarding factionalism within Bathinda’s political landscape.
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