“If Punjab Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal told workers of his Shiromani Akali Dal to turn violent, members of the Aam Aadmi Party would not stay alive.” – This threat was made by Union minister Harsimrat Kaur Badal hours after a shoe was hurled at the chief minister at a function in Lambi village, Muktsar district, on Wednesday, Hindustan Times reported. She made the statement while campaigning for the SAD in Budhlada.

The food processing industries minister condemned “the cowardly attack” on Twitter, as well. Referring to her father-in-law as the “most respected politician”, she urged “Punjabis to shun elements who want to destroy” his “peaceful fabric”. “Badal Sahab has devoted his entire life to serve Punjabis. Miscreants who want to destroy hard-won peace can never succeed in this endeavour,” Harsimrat Kaur said. “I appeal to Punjabis...to give a befitting answer to miscreants by voting for Badal Sahab to lead them again.”

Earlier, she had accused AAP leader Bhagwant Mann of pushing voters towards violence ahead of the Assembly elections in Punjab. She had also alleged that he had had a hand in the attack on her husband Deputy Chief Minister Sukhbir Singh Badal’s convoy in Jalalabad a few days ago. Mann had rejected her claims.

During her campaign, she continued her attack on AAP and its national convener Arvind Kejriwal. “A Haryanvi and now the chief minister of Delhi, Kejriwal is an alien to our culture. He has double standards on issues, like the Sutlej-Yamuna Link Canal, that concern Punjab,” she said. Harsimrat Kaur also accused the Congress of defaming Punjab with its constant reference to the drug menace in the state.

The man who threw a shoe at the Punjab chief minister was detained soon after. He is believed to have links to Sikh radicals, according to Hindustan Times.