The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) and the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) on Saturday locked horns over the safety of buses ferrying pilgrims under the Punjab government’s Mukh Mantri Tirath Yatra scheme, with Commission member Priyank Kanoongo questioning how sleeper buses were operating in the state despite an earlier response from its transport department that no such vehicles were registered.

The confrontation followed the NHRC’s direction to Punjab Chief Secretary KAP Sinha to personally ensure the inspection of all buses deployed under the scheme and submit a report within seven days.…