Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) president Sukhbir Singh Badal on Saturday held Bhagwant Mann directly responsible for the murder of anti-drug activist Parvinder Singh Jhota, accusing the Aam Aadmi Party-led government of failing to curb drug trafficking and maintain law and order in Punjab.
His wife and Bathinda MP Harsimrat Kaur Badal also launched a sharp attack on the state government, demanding its dismissal over the killing and raising questions about the alleged nexus between drug traffickers, politicians and the police administration.
Addressing the issue at the SAD office in Chandigarh, former chief minister Sukhbir Badal criticised Mann over his handling of the state’s worsening drug problem and the prevailing law and order situation.
He alleged that the Chief Minister had failed to discharge his responsibilities while Punjab continued to face serious challenges, including drug trafficking and violence against those opposing the menace.
"The situation is such that there is no law and order because the chief minister doesn’t have time. The DGP is temporary for the last five years. The CM himself stays high and enjoys himself. So the condition is so bad that they have ruined Punjab. Bhagwant Mann is directly resonsible for the murder that has taken place".
Badal’s remarks came amid continuing protests in Mansa over Jhota’s killing.
The anti-drug activist had campaigned against the narcotics trade, and his death has triggered demands for a thorough investigation and accountability from the state administration.
The SAD chief’s criticism centred on what he described as the government’s failure to protect people confronting drug trafficking.
By holding Mann directly responsible for Jhota’s death, Badal sought to link the murder with the broader deterioration in Punjab’s law and order situation and the government’s handling of the drug menace.
The killing has intensified political pressure on the Mann government, with Jhota’s family and the committee formed to seek justice refusing to let the matter rest.
They have demanded the Chief Minister’s resignation and a Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) probe into the murder.
Jhota’s body remains in the mortuary of the Civil Hospital in Mansa as the protest continues.
HARSIMRAT BADAL IN ATTACKING MODE
Meanwhile, Harsimrat Kaur Badal, who visited the ongoing protest in Mansa, expressed condolences to Jhota’s family and said Punjab stood with them in their difficult time.
She accused the state government of failing to fulfil its promise of eliminating drugs, alleging that narcotics trafficking and corruption had increased while law and order had deteriorated.
She claimed that drug traffickers had become increasingly emboldened and were targeting those who raised their voices against the trade.
Referring to other alleged instances of mistreatment involving people who had complained about drugs, she questioned the government’s commitment to tackling the problem and protecting affected families.
Harsimrat also raised questions over the issuance of arms licences to the prime accused in the Jhota murder case.
Targeting Mann over his reported plans to travel abroad, she questioned his absence from Punjab during the ongoing crisis.
Alleging a nexus between politicians, police personnel and the administration, she said the government had no moral right to continue in office and demanded its immediate dismissal.
- Ends
With PTI inputs