Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) president Sukhbir Singh Badal has launched a scathing attack on Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann, holding him directly responsible for what he calls a total collapse of law and order in the state. The senior Akali leader made these remarks while presiding over meetings with party activists at his residence in Badal village.
An Era of Extortion and Goonda Raj: Badal's Sharp Critique
Badal asserted that the people of Punjab have had enough of the lawlessness that has become prevalent since the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) took charge. He claimed that Punjabis are desperate for an end to this phase, which he described as marked by extortion and goonda raj. The SAD president positioned his party as the necessary regional alternative to the current dispensation.
He declared that the upcoming SAD political conference in Muktsar would serve as a pivotal moment, effectively marking the beginning of the end for the AAP government in the state. "The conference will be a true harbinger of the next SAD government," Badal stated, expressing confidence that it would set the stage for the party's success in the 2027 assembly elections.
A Litany of Failures: From Governance to Public Safety
Going beyond law and order, Sukhbir Badal accused Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann of engaging in divisive and vengeful politics. He further alleged that the CM has handed over the reins of Punjab's administration to Delhi-based AAP leaders, allowing them to govern by proxy.
Badal outlined a multi-front crisis gripping the state. "Punjab and Punjabis are suffering on multiple fronts, be it law and order, the farmer crisis, unemployment and the stoppage of social welfare benefits," he said. He contrasted these pressing issues with what he termed the chief minister's lavish spending on self-publicity, even as the state faces financial strain.
Recent Violence Highlights Security Breakdown
To substantiate his claims of a deteriorating security situation, the SAD chief listed a series of violent incidents that have rocked Punjab in the first week of the new year:
- On January 5, a Kabaddi player was killed in Jagraon.
- On January 4, a Sarpanch was assassinated at a wedding function in Amritsar.
- On January 3, a panchayat member was shot dead in Moga.
- On January 2, a woman was gunned down in a targeted attack at her home in Kapurthala.
- In a separate incident in Ludhiana, masked men fired shots at a shop after making ransom calls to its owner.
Badal asserted that this chain of sensational killings proves that no citizen feels safe under the current regime. He concluded that these events are clear indicators that the AAP government has lost control and that Bhagwant Mann no longer deserves to remain in office.
Calling upon his party workers, Sukhbir Badal urged them to ensure the Muktsar conference is a grand success, predicting it would witness a massive outpouring of public support for the Shiromani Akali Dal.
