NHRC Member Criticizes Kejriwal Over Safety of Sleeper Buses in Punjab
NHRC member Priyank Kanungo questions Kejriwals defense of unsafe sleeper buses in Punjab, raising serious safety concerns.
New Delhi, October 25 (Daily Kiran) : National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) member Priyank Kanungo has taken aim at Arvind Kejriwal, the national convenor of the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP), for questioning the NHRC’s actions regarding allegedly unsafe sleeper buses operating in Punjab. Kanungo accused Kejriwal of opposing crucial safety issues by challenging the commission’s inquiry.
In a post on social media platform X, Kanungo pointed out the contradiction in the Punjab government’s claims that no sleeper buses are registered in the state while Kejriwal continues to resist the NHRC’s investigation.
“Don’t be afraid, Arvind. We haven’t even started investigating those commissions that are benefiting you from these bus operations,” Kanungo stated. He argued that political interests and commissions are putting the lives of ordinary citizens at risk, calling on the government to prioritize safe bus travel over financial gain.
He warned that accountability would be enforced if any citizen’s life is endangered due to these conditions. Kanungo emphasized that the notice sent to the Punjab government is part of a nationwide campaign, not limited to just one state. He claimed that in the past year, the NHRC has taken action against nearly 1,000 buses that do not meet safety standards, either removing them from service or imposing restrictions.
According to Kanungo, the Punjab Transport Department had informed the NHRC in January 2026 that no sleeper coach buses were registered in the state. He questioned how such buses could be operating without registration and asserted that this necessitated further investigation.
Previously, Kejriwal had raised concerns about the NHRC’s scrutiny of sleeper buses, suggesting that the commission’s inspection was biased, focusing solely on Punjab’s super deluxe buses used for religious travel. He inquired whether the NHRC had inspected buses from Uttar Pradesh or other states, indicating that the selective investigation raises numerous questions.
The NHRC reportedly received a complaint regarding the operation of unsafe buses in Punjab, prompting a notice to the state government for a response. This issue has sparked a heated political debate and intensified discussions about bus safety in Punjab.
