SAD Slams Punjab Government Over Sarpanch Murder, Demands Chief Minister's Resignation
In a sharp reaction to the murder of a sarpanch in Moga on Friday, Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) president Sukhbir Singh Badal has strongly questioned the law and order situation in Punjab and demanded the immediate resignation of Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann. The incident has sparked widespread criticism from opposition leaders, who are highlighting a perceived failure in governance and public safety.
Outcry Over Broad Daylight Killing
Sukhbir Singh Badal took to social media platform X to express his outrage, posting, "Another murder in Punjab! Today in Moga, as the day was breaking, a sarpanch was shot dead by unidentified assailants! After the series of murders that kept happening every day in the months of Jan and Feb, now even in March, the firing in broad daylight continues unabated!" He further emphasized the deteriorating security, stating, "A Punjabi today is not safe in his home, nor at school, nor at college, nor in the market, nor at the courthouse, not even outside temples and gurdwaras!"
Badal directly targeted Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann, who also serves as the home minister, accusing him of incompetence. He asserted, "Punjab's incompetent chief minister @BhagwantMann, who is also the home minister, completely failed in shouldering his responsibility and now doesn't deserve to sit on this chair even for one more day!" This demand for resignation underscores the escalating political tensions in the state.
Senior SAD Leader Highlights Government Contradictions
Senior SAD leader and former minister Bikram Singh Majithia also voiced his concerns on X, pointing out a contradiction in the government's stance. He noted, "On one hand, on the 1st day of the budget session, the govt is patting itself on the back over the issue of law and order. On the other hand, sarpanch Harvinder Singh Happy from Patto Hira Singh village in Moga was openly murdered in broad daylight." This criticism highlights what opposition leaders see as a disconnect between official claims and ground realities.
Majithia referenced a previous similar incident, stating, "Earlier as well, a sarpanch was murdered near the residences of the DC and SSP in Tarn Taran Sahib." He added a troubling detail about intelligence failures, revealing, "The shocking thing is that the central agencies already gave an input to the police about the sarpanch who was murdered today, but just like in the Sidhu Moosewala case, the input was not taken seriously, and today the sarpanch was killed." This comparison to the high-profile Sidhu Moosewala case raises serious questions about police responsiveness and intelligence handling.
Criticism of Police Campaigns and Leadership
Majithia further criticized the effectiveness of police initiatives, saying, "The poor law-and-order situation in a border state, and the police campaigns like ‘Prahaar-1' and ‘Prahaar-2' remaining limited in impact, show that the ad-hoc DGP and the incompetent chief minister are busy saving their own chairs." This statement suggests that political motives may be overshadowing public safety efforts.
He also called for judicial intervention, appealing to the Punjab and Haryana High Court. Majithia stated, "Earlier also, the Punjab and Haryana high court took cognisance of the encounters happening in Punjab. Even now, I appeal to the HC that since the name of an AAP MLA surfaced, the investigation should be conducted by a neutral and independent agency." This appeal underscores demands for transparency and impartiality in handling such sensitive cases.
The murder in Moga has intensified scrutiny on Punjab's governance, with opposition leaders leveraging the incident to challenge the ruling Aam Aadmi Party's administration. As calls for accountability grow, the state government faces mounting pressure to address security concerns and restore public confidence.
