New Delhi, 14 October (H.S.): The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has launched a sharp attack on the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) government in Punjab over the state’s growing drug menace, deteriorating law and order situation, and alleged involvement of police personnel in the drug trade. Kewal Singh Dhillon, president of the BJP’s Punjab unit, raised serious concerns over these issues and demanded the resignation of Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann, asserting that the people of Punjab were seeking a change in government and waiting for the Model Code of Conduct to come into force.

Addressing a press conference at the BJP’s central headquarters on Wednesday, Dhillon said Punjab had long been regarded as the land of Sikh Gurus, saints and prophets. He described it as deeply distressing that a state which had spearheaded the Green Revolution had now become increasingly entangled in the drug menace.

Dhillon said the BJP had organised an anti-drug march across all 117 Assembly constituencies in Punjab. The campaign was launched from four different directions and culminated in Jalandhar.

During the march, party workers interacted with local residents and gained first-hand insight into the suffering of families affected by drug abuse, he said. According to Dhillon, people appreciated the BJP’s initiative and expressed their willingness to stand with the party in its fight against drugs.

He added that the accounts shared by families affected by substance abuse were so distressing that even officials present at the press conference were moved by their experiences.

BJP Seeks CBI Probe into Parvinder Singh Jotta Murder

During the press conference, Dhillon also raised the issue of the broad-daylight shooting and killing of Parvinder Singh Jotta. Calling for an impartial investigation, he said the BJP had written to the Governor of Punjab seeking a probe into the case by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI).

Dhillon said such incidents raised serious questions about the law and order situation in the state. He alleged that certain police personnel in Punjab were themselves facilitating the drug trade.

When individuals entrusted with enforcing the law face allegations of involvement in illegal activities, it undermines the effectiveness of law enforcement and erodes public confidence in the administration, he said.

The BJP leader urged the state government to take effective measures against drug trafficking and crack down firmly on the entire network involved in the trade. He called for stringent action against those responsible and demanded accountability from the authorities.

Dhillon Says Punjab Is Ready for Political Change

Targeting Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann, Dhillon said he should either resign from office or wait for the Model Code of Conduct to come into force.

He claimed that people across Punjab were dissatisfied with the incumbent government and alleged that residents in several villages were saying they would not allow AAP leaders to enter their villages once the Model Code of Conduct was implemented.

Dhillon maintained that the BJP would continue its campaign against drugs and stand alongside those affected by substance abuse, as well as their families. He stressed that freeing Punjab from the drug menace and restoring public confidence in the state’s law and order machinery were essential priorities.

Reiterating the party’s demands, the BJP called on the AAP government to curb drug trafficking, take strict action against those involved and ensure a CBI investigation into the killing of Parvinder Singh Jotta.

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Hindusthan Samachar / Jun Sarkar