The Aam Aadmi Party has suspended its Amritsar North MLA and former Indian Police Service officer Kunwar Vijay Pratap Singh for five years, citing “anti-party activity” following his public criticism of the arrest of senior Akali leader Bikram Singh Majithia.
Party sources confirmed that the decision was taken during a recent meeting of AAP’s Political Affairs Committee, where Singh’s remarks were deemed in contravention of the party’s discipline.
Singh had openly questioned the government’s handling of Majithia’s arrest by the Punjab Vigilance Bureau, alleging procedural lapses and terming the operation ethically flawed. “When he was arrested previously, the government did not even seek his remand,” the legislator said, accusing senior police officers of enabling Majithia’s release on bail.
While acknowledging his ideological distance from Majithia, Singh contended that the matter was one of “ethics and integrity in the process”.
His suspension appears to be the culmination of a prolonged estrangement from the party’s inner workings. Over the past several months, Singh has conspicuously distanced himself from organisational affairs and has abstained from key meetings. Following the Amritsar hooch tragedy earlier this year, in which 27 people died after consuming methanol-laced liquor, he accused leaders within the AAP of colluding with the liquor mafia.
Responding to the disciplinary action, a senior AAP leader stated, “Questioning Vigilance action against Majithia has cost Kunwar Vijay Pratap dearly. The government’s message is clear, politics will not be tolerated in the campaign against drugs. There is no place in the party for whosoever tries to create a hindrance in the anti-drug campaign.”
Also read: Majithia’s arrest unites warring opposition against AAP
The Congress, meanwhile, was swift to denounce the suspension. Congress MLA Sukhpal Singh Khaira who was formerly with AAP, said, “This just proves that there is no space for dissent or truthful politics in AAP.”
A former IPS officer who once played a pivotal role in the investigation of the sacrilege cases, Singh joined the Aam Aadmi Party ahead of the 2022 Punjab Assembly elections and secured a win from the Amritsar North constituency. His consistent criticism of the party's conduct, however, has kept him at odds with the leadership ever since.
From Cop to lawmaker: The political turn of Kunwar Vijay Pratap Singh
Kunwar Vijay Pratap Singh began his public career in uniform, serving as a senior police officer in Punjab for over two decades. His postings included key law-and-order roles in Amritsar and border districts, eventually rising to the rank of Inspector General of Police.
He came into the public spotlight during his tenure with the Special Investigation Team (SIT) tasked with probing the 2015 sacrilege and police firing incidents in Punjab. His work in the case drew significant political attention, and after a legal setback to the SIT’s findings, he opted to resign from service in 2021.
Following his resignation, Singh announced his foray into politics, expressing the desire to pursue systemic reforms from within the legislative space. He joined the Aam Aadmi Party later that year, aligning with the party’s anti-corruption and governance-focused agenda.
In the 2022 Punjab Assembly elections, he successfully contested from Amritsar North, marking his electoral debut. His campaign emphasised transparency, police reform, and action against organised crime and drug networks, issues he had often flagged during his policing career. Since his election, Singh has remained a vocal figure in Punjab politics, often expressing positions that have diverged from his party’s official line.
Follow us
