New Delhi:A series of killings in Punjab over a 48-hour period has triggered a political row over the state’s law and order, with the BJP on Monday stepping up its attack on the AAP government and also raising allegations of corruption involving people linked to Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann.
The BJP attack came on a day when the Punjab and Haryana High Court directed the CBI to investigate allegations raised by the Enforcement Directorate in three letters sent to the Punjab DGP.
Addressing a press conference at the BJP headquarters, party spokesperson Sambit Patra alleged that both corruption and the law and order situation in Punjab had reached “their limits”.
“The High Court has proved what we had been saying. Arvind Kejriwal, the AAP and Bhagwant Mann should clarify how much of a scam has taken place, to what extent their own secretary is involved and how he himself is involved in corruption,” Mr Patra said.
He alleged that Rajbir Singh Ghuman, described by the BJP as being close to Mr Mann and serving as his OSD, had acted as an intermediary along with other officials in allegedly facilitating government benefits in return for money or bribes.
“The High Court corroborated what we had been saying about the level of corruption,” Mr Patra said.
Turning to the law and order situation, the BJP spokesperson cited four killings reported from the state within 48 hours.
“Four murders have taken place in the state within just 48 hours,” he said.
Patra said Punjabi social media influencer and make-up artist Mad Sandhu was shot dead by two motorcycle-borne assailants in Amritsar on Saturday. The same day, Navjeet Singh Neetu, 55, a former sarpanch of Mannewal village in Ludhiana district, was fatally shot, allegedly over a land dispute between two families.
He said another former sarpanch, Jagtar Singh of Phoos Mandi village, was axed to death outside a liquor vend in Bathinda on Sunday evening.
Patra also referred to the killing of 29-year-old Laddi Khan, who was shot dead at Mullanpur Dakha in Ludhiana district on Friday night, allegedly over an old rivalry between two groups.
“Had this happened in a BJP-ruled state, Arvind Kejriwal would have taken out a rally, addressed a press conference and demanded that the government be removed. This double-speak of Arvind Kejriwal and AAP won’t work,” Patra said.
Later, the BJP spokesperson also attacked Congress leader Rahul Gandhi over his alleged silence on Indian pilot Captain Smit Machchhar, who was attacked by his Omani co-pilot with a crash axe aboard a Dubai-Tel Aviv Flydubai flight.
Patra also invoked the 2008 Batla House encounter while questioning the Congress’ stance on terrorism.
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