Protesting Teachers From Punjab And AAP Workers Clash During Arvind Kejriwal's Rally In Himachal

The Aam Aadmi Party’s (AAP's) roadshow in Solan, Himachal Pradesh, on 3 November 2022 was disrupted by teachers from Punjab.

The ruckus erupted in the middle of AAP convenor, Arvind Kejriwal’s speech. It was reported that teachers from Punjab were throwing pamphlets highlighting the unfulfilled promises AAP made in the run-up to elections in Punjab.

The protesting teachers were then physically assaulted by the party volunteers for raising slogans against the AAP government in Punjab. Seeing the commotion, Kejriwal ended his speech within five minutes. He said that those protesting are not teachers but hired ponies.

AAP had promised to regularise teachers who have passed elementary teacher training (ETT) test. These teachers have been visiting various places in Himachal Pradesh, which is set to go for election in November 2022, to make people aware of the assurances AAP gave but has not fulfilled yet.

Earlier, teachers from Punjab had also staged a dharna against AAP on 31 October 2022 in Shimla under the banner of “Poll khol, halla bol” campaign.

It is not the first time that the disgruntled teachers have faced the wrath of the AAP for protesting.

In July 2022, 180 ETT teachers were lathicharged outside Delhi Chief Minister's house, who had come to protest against the insensitive attitude of the AAP-led Punjab government.