Protests erupted in Jalandhar, Punjab, India, on Saturday as Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) workers reacted to the defection of cricketer-turned-politician Harbhajan Singh and educationist Ashok Mittal to the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). The demonstrations were marked by vandalism, with protesters spray-painting the word “Gaddar” (traitor) on Singh's residence and making derogatory remarks at the Lovely Professional University (LPU) owned by Mittal. Local AAP leaders, including Balkar Singh, the Kartarpur MLA, and former MLA Pawan Kumar Tinu, led the protests, accusing the defectors of betraying the mandate of Punjab's people. Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann condemned the defectors, labeling them as traitors and alleging that they acted out of personal political interests. The defections, which included seven Rajya Sabha members, have significantly weakened AAP's representation in the Upper House. AAP leaders claim that the BJP is attempting to undermine their party through conspiracies, as they continue to promote a politics of development. In related protests, AAP workers also targeted the residence of Rajya Sabha MP Rajinder Gupta in Ludhiana.