Punjab: Opposition Slams Kejriwal’s 'Lavish Cavalcade, VIP Security' For Vipassana Retreat

Chandigarh: The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) supremo Arvind Kejriwal on Wednesday came under heavy fire from Opposition parties for what they alleged, his "huge security paraphernalia at the cost of taxpayers’ money’’.

Kejriwal and his wife Sunita who reached Punjab’s Hoshiarpur district late Tuesday night are here to attend the 10-day meditation camp at the Dhamma Dhaja Vipassana Centre, village Anandgarh, near Hoshiarpur, beginning Wednesday.

Vipassana, an ancient meditation technique rooted in the teachings of Gautam Buddha, is taught in a 10-day residential course at the said centre during which the participants are not allowed any kind of communication – verbal or gestural – with anyone, except for meditation related discussion.

The couple reached Forest Rest House, village Chohal, Hoshiarpur, late Tuesday night, reportedly in a lavish cavalcade of 30 vehicles including bulletproof Land Cruisers and about 80 commandos and Punjab police personnel.

Senior Punjab Congress leader Partap Singh Bajwa, who is also leader of opposition in Punjab assembly, took a dig at the AAP leader stating that when his party emerged, its leaders promised to end VIP culture and said leaders who demanded security should leave politics. ``Regretfully, yesterday, the cavalcade (of Arvind Kejriwal) contained 32 cars...Even today, 80 commandos of Punjab Police are in Kapurthala House to safeguard Kejriwal ji...Bhagwant Mann, who is both not mentally and physically stable, needs 'Vipasanna' the most...They have done everything opposite to what they had said’’, Bajwa said.

AAP MP Swati Maliwal also hit out at Kejriwal, saying Kejriwal, who criticised the whole world for VIP culture, was roaming around with a security cover bigger than Donald Trump’s.

BJP leader and Delhi minister Manjinder Singh Sirsa also asked what kind of Vipassana required a huge security parade funded by Punjab taxpayers.

He said on X: "Arvind Kejriwal, who once pretended to be a common man in a WagonR, now moves in a lavish convoy of bulletproof Land Cruisers, 100+ Punjab Police commandos, jammers & ambulances—like a VIP Maharaja all for Vipassana, a retreat meant for peace! If power was his test, he has failed miserably. What kind of ‘Vipassana’ requires a grand security parade funded by Punjab taxpayers? Even CM Bhagwant Mann isn’t in the convoy! AAP’s truth is out—deception, hypocrisy, and VIP arrogance at its peak!’’

BJP national general secretary Tarun Chug asked in which capacity does Kejriwal Punjab use resources as he is neither Delhi CM nor an MLA and has even been holding Punjab department meetings.

Pertinently, it is the second time that Kejriwal has come to attend the said meditation camp; earlier, he attended a similar course here from December 21 to December 30, 2023.