Chandigarh, Oct 18 Congress leader Sachin Pilot on Sunday lashed out at the Bhagwant Mann government in Punjab over the issues of drug menace and law and order, alleging that anyone who “opposes and exposes” the AAP dispensation and the alleged nexus between criminals, politicians and police, their fate is sealed.
Referring to the murder of anti-gangster activist Parvinder Singh Jhota in Mansa, Pilot said he was an activist and trying to fight drugs.
“Now, unfortunately, the people of Punjab are losing hope in the system of governance. That’s why people are fleeing the state. People do not want to come back here. Young people are disillusioned. I think they feel disenchanted with the way things are happening. To my mind, this is a very dangerous sign for a society.
“The elections will come and go, parties will win and lose, but people’s faith in the system cannot be compromised,” he said while speaking to reporters at Shahkot in Jalandhar.
Known for raising his voice against the illegal sale of addictive substances at chemist shops, Jhota was shot in broad daylight inside a medical store at a busy marketplace in Mansa on October 13.
Ashwani Kumar, the store owner who allegedly opened fire on Jhota after he questioned him for selling addictive drugs to an elderly man, was taken into custody from Salasar in Rajasthan.
Pilot is on a five-day visit to Punjab to meet families of gang violence victims, seeking justice for them.
On the third day of his visit, Pilot met the family of kabaddi player Sandeep Nangal Ambian in Shahkot. Ambian, a prominent kabaddi player, was shot dead during an ongoing match in Jalandhar in March 2022.
Replying to a question, Pilot also slammed the BJP over the drug scourge in Punjab. The BJP was also sharing power with the Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD), so they cannot shrug off their own responsibility, he said.
“Today the BJP is in power in Delhi. They have the home ministry and the defence ministry. The borders of Pakistan are porous.
“Drugs and guns are coming over the border. What is the Government of India doing? What is the home ministry doing?” he asked.
Earlier in Nakodar, Pilot, along with Punjab Congress chief Pargat Singh, visited the home of Timmy Chawla, who was shot dead four years ago, to meet his family.
The Congress leaders assured the family that they will make every effort to secure justice for Chawla.
“I met the family of late Bhupinder Singh Chawla (Timmy Chawla). Four years ago, Timmy Chawla had been receiving repeated ransom threats. Despite filing a police complaint, he continued to face death threats. He was shot dead in broad daylight. Policeman Mandeep Singh, who was deployed to protect him, also lost his life in the attack.
“The increasing incidents of threats, extortion, and gunfire in broad daylight in Punjab are deeply concerning. They are increasing insecurity among citizens, claiming innocent lives, and emboldening criminals,” said Pilot.
(PTI News)
