The Punjab Youth Congress launched coordinated demonstrations across every district of the state on Monday, voicing strong opposition to what it termed a complete breakdown of law and order under the ruling Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) government.
Statewide Demonstrations Led by Youth Wing
Organized under the leadership of Punjab Youth Congress president Mohit Mohindra, the protests saw party workers, district presidents, and office-bearers gathering for peaceful sit-ins outside the offices of senior superintendents of police and police commissioners throughout Punjab. The protestors collectively accused the state administration of failing in its fundamental duty to ensure public security.
They issued a stern warning that the youth of Punjab would not stand for anarchy being passed off as governance. The demonstrations served as a platform to highlight growing public frustration and to present a set of concrete demands to the authorities.
Allegations of Rising Lawlessness and Government Inaction
Mohindra, addressing the issue, asserted that Punjab was dangerously slipping into a state of lawlessness under the current dispensation. He laid out a series of grave accusations to substantiate this claim.
Gangsters are allegedly operating without fear of consequences, while business owners face rampant extortion threats. Incidents of indiscriminate firing have become routine, and the scourge of drug abuse continues to devastate the future of the state's young population, he claimed.
The Youth Congress chief lambasted the AAP government, alleging that its approach to law and order has been reduced to mere press conferences and advertisement campaigns, with the actual situation on the ground worsening steadily. He expressed concern that the damage could become permanent if urgent corrective measures are not taken.
Demands and Threat of Escalated Agitation
Mohindra pointed to a weak state response as emboldening criminal elements and cited political interference as a key factor crippling the police force's effectiveness. "A government that cannot protect its citizens has no moral right to remain in power," he declared.
The protestors have submitted a list of demands to the government, calling for:
- A zero-tolerance policy and crackdown on gangsters, extortion rackets, and drug mafias.
- Public accountability for senior police and administrative officials.
- Strengthening of law enforcement agencies, free from political pressure.
- A clear, time-bound action plan to restore public safety and confidence.
Issuing a warning of intensified dissent, Mohindra stated that if the government continues to ignore this critical ground reality, the current protests will escalate into a massive statewide movement. This broader agitation would aim to include civil society groups, traders' associations, student bodies, and farmers' unions, mounting significant pressure on the administration.
