In a scathing attack on the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) government, Punjab's Leader of Opposition, Partap Singh Bajwa, has demanded the immediate resignation of Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann. The Congress leader held the state government morally and constitutionally responsible for the rapidly deteriorating law and order situation, which he described as pushing Punjab into an era of fear and uncertainty.
A State Shaken by Three Murders in Three Days
Bajwa's demand comes in the wake of three high-profile and brutal murders that have shaken the state within a span of just three days. He asserted that these were not isolated incidents of ordinary crime but pointed towards a dangerous atmosphere of organised crime flourishing under the current administration. The Congress leader accused the government of failing to enforce the rule of law, allowing criminal elements to act with complete impunity.
Brazen Crimes Expose Collapse of Deterrence
Bajwa detailed the horrifying incidents to underscore his point. He referred to the daylight killing of a former kabaddi player in Manuke, where the assailants displayed shocking audacity. "The killers drove to the victim's home, announced the murder to his family, and asked them to collect the body," Bajwa stated, highlighting this act as a symbol of the total collapse of deterrence in Punjab.
In another incident that spread terror, an AAP-affiliated sarpanch was shot dead inside a wedding ceremony in Amritsar, proving that even crowded public gatherings are no longer safe. Bajwa also cited the murder of Congress leader Umarseer Singh alias Sheera Bhinder in Bhinder Kalan village of Moga district. He alleged that Bhinder had faced threats after playing an active role in defeating the AAP candidate in the recent block samiti elections.
"Open Terror" and a Slide Towards Gangland Rule
Bajwa emphatically declared that Punjab is witnessing "open terror" and not routine violence. He blamed the state government for weakening institutions, allowing the free circulation of illegal weapons, and failing to inspire any confidence in the policing system. This environment, he warned, has made gangsters feel utterly fearless.
The senior Congress leader issued a grave warning that Punjab is sliding towards gangland rule, where the deadly nexus of organised crime, drugs, and weapons is flourishing unchecked. He said the Mann government's repeated claims of improvement in the state's security situation now stand fully exposed by the daily bloodshed and loss of innocent lives. "The government has proved itself completely incapable of protecting the citizens of Punjab," Bajwa asserted, concluding that the chief minister must accept responsibility and step down immediately.
