AAP protests against Akali Dal in Ludhiana; party calls circulating video fake and edited

June 20, 2026

Ludhiana: State politics have heated up over an allegedly fake video of Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann that is going viral on social media. In response, party workers staged a protest in Ludhiana today to support the Chief Minister and oppose what they termed “false propaganda” by the Shiromani Akali Dal.

The protest was organized under the leadership of Jitendra Singh Khangura, the Aam Aadmi Party’s (AAP) Ludhiana Urban District President and Chairman of the District Planning Committee. One of Ludhiana’s busiest areas was chosen for the demonstration; a large number of AAP leaders and workers began gathering at 11:30 AM in front of Hotel Park Plaza on Ferozepur Road.

AAP terms the video fake and edited

The District President stated that a video was circulated on social media with the intent of tarnishing Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann’s image; the Aam Aadmi Party and the Punjab government have dismissed it as completely fake and edited. The government claims that a forensic examination has clarified that the person in the video is not the Chief Minister but likely a lookalike, or that the video was created using deepfake technology.

Opposition parties are rattled

AAP leaders allege that opposition parties are rattled by the decisions Chief Minister Mann is taking in the interest of Punjab and are attempting to tarnish his image as part of a well-planned political conspiracy. The Aam Aadmi Party held today’s protest in Ludhiana to oppose this alleged misinformation campaign.

Tight security arrangements

Since the protest was held in front of Hotel Park Plaza on a major thoroughfare like Ferozepur Road, there was a possibility of traffic congestion in the area during the afternoon. In view of this, the police and administration tightened security arrangements.