The National Commission for Women (NCW) has called for an urgent and impartial investigation into serious allegations of sexual misconduct against Punjab Minister Balkar Singh. The accusations, brought forth by BJP leader Tajinder Pal Singh Bagga, claim that Singh engaged in inappropriate sexual conduct during a video call with a woman seeking employment.


In a statement on X (formerly Twitter), NCW Chairperson Rekha Sharma condemned the alleged behaviour and urged the Punjab Director General of Police (DGP) to intervene promptly. "The National Commission for Women is gravely disturbed by a Twitter post alleging inappropriate conduct by Punjab MLA Mr Balkar Singh. The reported acts, if substantiated, constitute serious violations under IPC sections 354 and 354B, directly affronting a woman's dignity," the NCW stated.





Sharma insisted on a comprehensive report on the incident to be submitted within three days.


A political uproar ensued as BJP's Tajinder Bagga took to X and claimed, "A 21 year old sister comes to Aam Aadmi Party's Punjab Minister Balkar Singh and says that she is in great need of a job. Balkar asks her to make video calls, forces her to take off her clothes and masturbates. @ArvindKejriwal And @BhagwantMann I demand the immediate dismissal of Balkar."


When asked about the allegations, Balkar Singh, the Local Government and Parliamentary Affairs Minister, remarked, "I have no comments and not in my knowledge."






Congress, Akali Dal, BJP Slam AAP Over Punjab Minister Balkar Singh's 'Obscene Video'


The opposition parties in Punjab including Congress, Shiromani Akali Dal, and the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) have unanimously condemned the alleged incident and demanded action from the Bhagwant Mann-led government.


Former Punjab chief minister and Congress leader Charanjit Singh Channi criticised the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) leader, saying, "I want to ask him, why is he trying to defame all of Punjab? This is not our civilisation. You are destroying our culture... They have purposely chosen such kind of people to be MLAs and MPs."






Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) General Secretary Bikram Singh Majithia also expressed his outrage, "Another obscene video of Minister Balkar Singh has surfaced. Some time ago, I had also handed over a video to the governor because the daughters of Punjab approach ministers sitting in public office. They have a bad mindset and bad intentions. I said that such people should neither be in the cabinet nor in the government. They don't have respect for women."


Majithia further criticised the AAP government, alleging that Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann is providing full protection to Singh due to his financial contributions to the party.


"Look at the condition of the government of change, and yet he is getting full protection from Bhagwant Mann because this minister funds AAP on a large scale from local bodies departments, and others. They (AAP) just need to keep getting money from somewhere, they think it's okay to keep fooling people. It doesn't matter to them if such acts occur. Will the people of Punjab tolerate this?" he added.






Majithia called on the public to demand legal action against Balkar Singh, urging them to ensure that the culprits end up in jail.


BJP leader Shazia Ilmi also waded into the matter and remarked that she was ashamed of the incident. She demanded that leaders across party lines question AAP chief Arvind Kejriwal.


"Back when the party was formed, Arvind Kejriwal had assured the people that right from the lowest to the topmost level in the party, all people will have a clean character. But what we have seen in the past and this one today is contrary to his claims... What the Punjab Minister has done, we cannot even talk about it in a civilised society. I feel so ashamed and sorry for the woman. What must have she gone through? I think all people across party lines and the general public, those who belong to the civilised society, should question Arvind Kejriwal... This person has not just been absurd with this 21-year-old girl who was looking for a job, he was seen in a roadshow of Arvind Kejriwal in Jalandhar," she told news agency ANI.






Punjab BJP Vice President Kewal Singh Dhillon told ANI, "This is not a first, this tells a lot about the characteristic of the party. This is one thing which feels disgusting to even talk about, and when a minister does things like this, what message will it send to the people?"






Punjab CM Bhagwant Mann is yet to respond to the row over minister Balkar Singh's alleged obscene video.