Chandigarh: Before becoming Punjab chief minister last year in March, Aam Aadmi Party leader Bhagwant Mann often took digs at his predecessors for misusing state chequer on air ferries. Now, he finds himself in a political row over the same issue.All major opposition parties including Shiromani Akali Dal have slammed AAP government’s latest tender for a 8-10 seater jet aircraft, to be hired for six months, bids for which closed on September 18.The Punjab government already owns a helicopter at the permanent service of its chief ministers, past and present.Since AAP and Punjab government have not clarified the reason over hiring aircraft for this short duration, political allegations are flying thick and fast.The Shiromani Akali Dal alleged that the aircraft was being hired to facilitate the political campaigns of AAP national convener and Delhi chief minister Arvind Kejriwal for the forthcoming Lok Sabha elections, with public money. Leaders of other political parties including Congress and BJP raised similar allegations.A post on X from Patiala-based Right to Information Act (RTI) activist Manik Goyal, in which he shared aircraft’s tender document, sparked the whole matter. Goyal’s account is now no longer on X.As soon as he posted the document, Punjab Police replied to his post and the said tender document was “sensitive document related to security of State functionaries facing serious and credible threats”.“This document is not meant for open public circulation, rather only for those registered on the procurement platform,” the police replied, before asking him to remove it immediately and to not post documents related to the “safety of state functionaries” in the future.You are advised to delete the tweet/remove the document immediately. In future too, you are advised to show discretion in sharing documents related to security of State or of State functionaries. (2/2)— Punjab Police India (@PunjabPoliceInd) September 29, 2023Although Goyal told The Wire that he has not removed his account on X, the following notice now appears where his tweet should.Immediately after Punjab police’s reply, the matter turned political with leaders as well as the general public flaying it as an infringement of the rights of voices critical to AAP government.BJP leader Manjinder Sirsa tweeted, “What a downfall of the party (AAP) that talked of Inqlaab (revolution) and now suppressing every free voice!! This matter has become sensitive because Aam Aadmi Party wants to loot Punjab to please its boss Arvind Kejriwal.”Senior Congress leader Partap Bajwa, also leader of opposition in the Punjab legislative assembly, wrote, “AAP govt can go to any extent to throttle the voice of those who have been exposing its irregularities and corrupt practices. ”He then added, “Despite the fact the document was available on the Punjab Government’s website, a public domain, the AAP govt through Punjab Police tried its best to suppress the voice of this activist. Instead of working as a tool of AAP, the Punjab Police should work independently as per the law and constitution. ”Harmilap Grewal, an RTI activist, also tweeted in response to Punjab Police reply, “I am surprised how an open tender becomes a security threat ?? I am literally shocked at the way you are trying to snub the voice.. this is absurd.”Sukhbir Badal also said Shiromani Akali Dal strongly condemned the manner in which whistle blowers are being targeted and threatened with dire consequences by the Punjab Police at the instance of Punjab CM Bhagwant Mann.As of now, the AAP social media handle, which otherwise remains active throughout out the day, has been silent on the criticism.‘The easy route’RTI activist Goyal told The Wire that Punjab is a relatively a small state that does not require a fixed wing aircraft. Punjab already possesses its own helicopter, which has been used by previous CMs and the current CM, he said, adding that this points to the flight’s use as a campaign aid.“AAP did not try to hire through the Delhi government because there are chances that it would not be approved by the Lieutenant General’s office. So, the party found the easy route through Punjab,” he claimed.He then said that last year too during Gujarat and Himachal elections, the Punjab government paid nearly Rs 1 crore on hiring aircraft in which both Kejriwal and Mann travelled to these poll bound states as part of campaigns.Goyal said he received this information through two separate RTI applications in April last year. He added that when this became a political issue back home, the Punjab government declined all further RTIs he had filed on the CM’s air ferry expenses, citing security concerns.Goyal said that before the 2022 assembly elections, Bhagwant Mann had often been critical of his predecessor Charanjit Singh Channi’s alleged use of the helicopter.