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2h ago

Punjab Halts BJP Welfare Camps, Detains Leaders Over Alleged Data Misuse

Officials cite alleged DPDP Act violations, warning of OTP-linked fraud.

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According to information, the BJP had hired a few professionals, who the BJP claims were party workers with laptops and KYC to enrol state residents into various central schemes.
BJP leader KD Bhandari being detained at Shahkot in Jalandhar district on Thursday for organising the party’s outreach programme. (HT Photo)

Overview

  • The AAP-led Punjab government ordered local administrations to stop BJP-run enrolment camps in 39 constituencies, citing unauthorized personal-data collection.
  • Punjab Police formed inquiry teams under the Digital Personal Data Protection Act, 2023 and urged residents not to share Aadhaar or OTPs with unauthorised persons.
  • Several BJP leaders were detained for defying the halt, including former MP Sushil Kumar Rinku, ex-MLA K.D. Bhandari, Ludhiana rural chief Sunny Kainth, Pathankot district chief Suresh Kumar and leader Pritpal Sharma.
  • The BJP says its 'BJP De Sewadar Aa Gaye Ne Tuhade Dwaar' drive lawfully helped enroll about 1.57 lakh people in central schemes using authorised CSC IDs, calling the data-theft charge politically motivated.
  • A delegation led by BJP working president Ashwani Sharma met Governor Gulab Chand Kataria seeking intervention, as the party vowed to continue outreach and held protests in several districts.