Mansa, Oct 17: In the aftermath of the brutal killing of anti-drug activist Parvinder Singh Jhota by a medical store owner, Congress leaders said on Saturday that if the heads of the Punjab government were accountable to the public, then common people wouldn’t take the law into their own hands.
They added that Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann should resign on ethical grounds for not being able to protect the people of the state.
Speaking to reporters, Congress in-charge Sachin Pilot said, “A few days ago, a person was shot dead during a live stream. The person who raises their voice against drug abuse in Punjab or who works to expose the government is openly targeted and loses their life.”
Pilot said that there can be no greater failure of law and order than the current situation in Punjab. “It is deeply painful that the Home Minister of the state and Chief Minister of Punjab, who should take responsibility, offer reassurance, and ensure justice, fail to do so and instead use derogatory language for the Opposition if they raise their voice against them,” he said.
Pilot further said, “We want that the use of ‘chitta’ be stopped in Punjab. The ongoing brutality on people should be stopped. Lawlessness is rampant.”
“The AAP government, which won with a huge majority, has not been able to do justice to the people of Punjab.
The Chief Minister wasted his opportunity to serve the people of Punjab. He should step down from his position on ethical grounds,” he added.
BJP: Punjab burning but Mann going to France with wife to celebrate birthday
The BJP on Saturday attacked Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant, asking why he wants to visit France when the state is grappling with the drugs issue alongside a “complete collapse” of law and order.
This came a day after the Punjab and Haryana High Court gave its nod to Mann’s visit to France, allowing the state government’s plea challenging the Centre’s decision to deny political clearance for it.
In its 56-page petition, the Punjab government submitted that the visit, scheduled from October 15 to 21, was proposed in connection with the participation of the Punjab State Cooperative Supply and Marketing Federation Ltd. (MARKFED), the apex cooperative of the state, in SIAL Paris 2026.
Taking on the ruling Aam Aadmi Party (AAP), BJP national media convenor Ashish Usha Agarwal said Punjab’s treasury is not a “holiday fund for those in power”.
Punjab is grappling with “serious challenges”, yet the AAP government seems more interested in Paris than in Punjab’s “pressing concerns”, he charged. (Agencies)