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2h ago

Punjab Shuts BJP Outreach Camps, Detains Leaders Over Data-Misuse Probe

The AAP-led government cites the data protection law after reports of unauthorised collection of residents’ details.

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The row over Bharatiya Janata Party’s (BJP) outreach programme in Punjab escalated on Thursday, with police detaining nearly 500 saffron party leaders and workers to thwart their plan to hold “awareness camps” at 39 places in the state.
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.

Overview

  • Local administration teams with police halted BJP-run camps in 39 constituencies that were enrolling residents for central welfare schemes.
  • Punjab Police detained numerous BJP leaders and workers, with some reports putting the tally at about 125, and seized material from several locations.
  • Officials invoked the Digital Personal Data Protection Act, 2023, launched investigations, and urged citizens to use authorised portals or Suvidha Kendras rather than sharing Aadhaar or KYC details at political camps.
  • BJP leaders denied any wrongdoing, said the drive has reached roughly 1.57 lakh people, and accused the AAP government of using the crackdown for political ends.
  • A delegation led by Ashwani Sharma submitted a memorandum to Governor Gulab Chand Kataria seeking intervention, as the party announced more activity including a Fazilka camp on August 22 and statewide camps on August 24.