The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) has launched its Women’s Wing Leadership Program from Punjab, with plans to expand it nationwide. Addressing the two-day Punjab Women’s Wing session via video conference from Delhi, AAP National Convenor Arvind Kejriwal called for making women equal partners in Punjab’s development, urging them to lead the fight against drugs by creating awareness in every household.
The AAP Chief said the state’s free, high-quality education and healthcare have brought financial relief and joy to families, with women emerging as the biggest beneficiaries. “It is the blessings of the people that keep us standing and working for the poor despite facing the mightiest forces,” he declared. During this, Punjab CM Bhagwant Mann, AAP’s Punjab Prabhari Manish Sisodia, Punjab Women’s Wing State President and Moga MLA Amandeep Kaur Arora, and Punjab Women’s Commission Chairperson Raj Lali Gill were present at the program.
Addressing the gathering of women leaders via video conferencing, AAP National Convenor Arvind Kejriwal stated, “This was less about formal training and more about learning in a positive atmosphere. You all spent two days in laughter and camaraderie. I believe such an environment is found only in the AAP. In other parties the women’s wing is often used merely to bring women to rallies or shout slogans against other leaders. Until now, even in our party, when we formed frontal wings—youth, traders, women, and others—we gave people positions like president, vice president, district or block president, but never real responsibilities or regular interaction.”
Praising the current approach, Arvind Kejriwal said, “For the first time, leaders like Manish Sisodia, Deepak, and Aman Arora are working together to strengthen the organisation in every village, town, ward, and locality in Punjab. This is commendable. Today’s training was for the women’s wing, and just 15–20 days ago, the youth wing had its own two-day training. We sent youth to villages and they are working. Now, women’s committees will be formed in every village, and women must reach every household to prepare and mobilise others.”
Highlighting Punjab’s biggest challenge, he said, “When we assumed power, the gravest problem was drugs. If a family member—a brother, son, father, or husband—is addicted, it’s the woman who suffers the most. If all the women of Punjab unite, no force can stop us from eradicating drugs. The Punjab government is fighting with full force, the police are working tirelessly. Now the people must join in. As we told the youth 10-15 days ago, they must be part of this fight—today I say the same to you: go house to house, speak to women, and get them involved in this ‘Yudh, Nashe Ke Virudh.’”
Calling for action, the AAP Chief added, “Women are waiting for someone to talk to them; they desperately want drugs gone. First, if someone in your home or neighbourhood is addicted, send them to a de-addiction centre. Earlier, these centres were filthy, with people chained, toilets unclean, and conditions inhumane. No one wanted to go. Now we have made them air-conditioned, installed CCTV, TVs, and improved them dramatically. People are no longer afraid to enter. When you visit homes, tell women to send addicts there to recover.”
Underscoring its moral value, he said, “Helping someone leave drugs is the greatest act of virtue you will do in your life. When I speak to Bhagwant Mann, I tell him that in Delhi our proudest achievements were schools and hospitals. But in Punjab, the greatest service is saving families destroyed by addiction. Despite powerful forces trying to jail us, torture us, and break our party, we survive because people’s blessings are with us. Remember—you are not doing political work, not just party work—you are doing a sacred duty, like a pilgrimage.”
Turning to household realities, Arvind Kejriwal said, “A woman runs the home. The man hands over his monthly earnings and the woman manages everything in these times of inflation. That’s why our work on improving government schools brings such joy to mothers—they love their children most and want their future secure. When they see a government building excellent schools, they are happy. The same with Mohalla Clinics offering free medicines and tests—it saves money for food or clothes. Free electricity too—these things give women the most relief and happiness.”
Driving the political point home, the AAP Supremo said, “Men sometimes stick to old party loyalties even when those parties have done nothing for schools, hospitals, clinics, or electricity. Women, however, are practical—they know who works for their home, children, husband, and income. They see the Aam Aadmi Party is delivering, so they support us. We must involve women equally in Punjab’s development.”
Just as a Home Cannot Function Without Women, a Nation Cannot Thrive Without Them: Bhagwant Mann
Addressing the program, Punjab CM Bhagwant Mann targeted opposition parties. He said that other parties also form women’s wings, but they remain limited to a minister. Women from ordinary households are only there to shout slogans. In contrast, the AAP, after bringing women into the party, gives them training on how to participate in active politics. He said that just as a home cannot function properly without women, similarly the country also cannot function properly without their participation.
He said that free electricity and mohalla clinics benefit women the most. This reduces the burden of inflation on them, as they are the ones most directly affected by inflation. Everything from ration to gas cylinders is connected to them.
The Punjab CM gave an example, saying that once he met a milkman who thanked him for doing a lot for milkmen. “I asked him how? He said that after 300 units of electricity were made free, women started saving money. Earlier, people used to settle accounts with me every three months. Now they pay me every 10 days because they are saving money on electricity, treatment, and their children’s school fees,” Bhagwant Mann said. “Similarly, a man called me and said that the ‘War Against Drugs’ campaign is actually for women because women were the most distressed due to drugs. Their children were being ruined or their husbands were returning home drunk and engaging in domestic violence.”
The Punjab CM also cited the example of women’s economic progress through self-help groups. He said that in Sangrur, with the help of the government, 100 women formed a group and started their own work, and today their monthly turnover has reached ₹1.5 crore. Apart from this, thousands of women have been recruited into the Punjab Police. Today, women are moving ahead in every field. “Just today, we have sent around 350 women sarpanches and panches from Fatehgarh Sahib to Maharashtra for training at government expense. The government will bear the cost of their stay, food, and travel. We are working with full commitment to empower women, and in the coming days, meaningful results will be seen,” Bhagwant Mann said.
Women’s Wing resolves to secure the highest number of votes for AAP in 2027 elections: Manish Sisodia
During the event, Punjab Prabhari Manish Sisodia said that women had voted enthusiastically to form the AAP government in Punjab. In 2027, compared to 2022, even more women will vote for AAP. “We have taken a pledge to make ‘Rangla Punjab,’ and we are working to make every family in Punjab wealthy and prosperous. To achieve this, we will support everything from self-help groups (SHGs) to small startups, local shops, and small businesses through government schemes. We will bring women to the forefront,” he said.
Manish Sisodia announced that within the next month, AAP’s Punjab Women’s Wing will complete the identification, appointment, and training of leaders at the village and ward levels. After that, each woman leader will form a team of 20 women in her village or ward and train them. All these women’s teams together will work to increase every woman’s family income and connect them with AAP’s politics.
Highlighting the government’s work, he said, “The AAP government has carried out historic work like cleaning village canals, opening Mohalla Clinics, improving schools, creating jobs, and fighting to save Punjab’s water—things that were never done before. In the past three years, we have done so much that even if we name just 10 big achievements, it will silence our critics. Electricity is reaching their homes, jobs are going to their neighbours or at least to someone in their village. These women’s teams will take these achievements door to door and work on them. The real goal is to win the 2027 election.”
Calling the women’s wing vital for the party, Manish Sisodia said, “The AAP women’s wing in Punjab has not only worked for women but has also created new leadership in many ways. Several women who are MLAs today, holding senior constitutional positions, serving as chairpersons in the government, and working for Punjab, began their political journey in the women’s wing. That is why the women’s wing will work to form the next government. It will empower every home in Punjab through women, increase incomes, generate jobs, and create future leaders for the state.”
