Chandigarh, Oct 26: BJP leader Tarun Chugh on Monday launched a sharp attack on the Bhagwant Mann government over the alleged deteriorating law and order situation in Punjab, citing daylight murders, kidnappings, drug trafficking and the growing menace of gangsters.
He said the people of Punjab increasingly recognise that freeing the state from drugs, extortion, mafia networks and gangster violence requires a BJP government backed by firm political resolve and decisive leadership.
Under the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) government, ordinary citizens are increasingly concerned about their safety, while criminals appear emboldened, he said.
Chugh referred to Sunday's double murder in Moga, the recent kidnapping of a 27-year-old youth from Patiala whose body was subsequently recovered in the Sangrur area, and a few more recent incidents of crime.
In a statement, the BJP leader said these incidents raise serious questions about the state government's ability to maintain law and order.
He demanded that Chief Minister Mann explain the arrests made, the police action taken and the steps being undertaken to ensure that those responsible are brought to justice.
Chugh stressed that the government cannot evade accountability when the lives and safety of Punjab's citizens are at stake.
He said drug trafficking, extortion and gangster networks have become a grave challenge not only for policing but also for Punjab's security and future.
Chugh called for a thorough and impartial investigation into allegations concerning drug supply chains, the illegal sale of pharmaceutical drugs, networks allegedly operating from prisons, and the smuggling of narcotics and weapons from Pakistan through drones.
He emphasised that the entire supply chain must be investigated rather than focusing solely on small-time offenders.
Chugh reiterated the commitment articulated by Union Home Minister Amit Shah that drugs will be eradicated from Punjab under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi by December 31, 2029.
Those involved in selling and supplying 'chitta' (synthetic drugs) as well as individuals operating the wider drug trafficking network must be brought within the ambit of the law and subjected to stringent punishment.
He said achieving this objective requires action against the entire network, including its alleged masterminds, financiers, "political protectors" and international links. Where matters involve national security, the relevant central investigative agencies must also play their appropriate role.
Chugh said the BJP is committed to making Punjab fear-free, crime-free and drug-free.
"People of Punjab deserve a government that stands with victims rather than criminals, dismantles drug networks instead of allowing them to flourish and protects the future of the state's youth," he said.
Chugh demanded immediate action in murder and kidnapping cases, public disclosure of the outcomes of the anti-drug campaign and impartial investigations into allegations of political patronage to criminal networks.
He expressed confidence that the BJP's resolve under the leadership of Prime Minister Modi would play a decisive role in freeing Punjab from the grip of drugs and gangsterism.
Punjab BJP Kewal Singh Dhillon also criticised the AAP government over the alleged deteriorating law-and-order situation.
He alleged that incidents of daylight murders and shootings across Punjab have instilled fear among ordinary citizens. The recent firing incident in Moga, he added, exposes the reality behind the state government's claims regarding law and order.
Notably, two persons were killed while three others sustained injuries when some unidentified persons opened fire at them in Punjab's Moga district on Sunday evening, police said on Monday.
Dhillon said that 23 police stations in Punjab have witnessed grenade attacks while serious incidents, including an attack on the police headquarters using a rocket launcher, have also taken place.
The state BJP chief demanded that the Punjab government take strict action against criminals, strengthen the police force and ensure the safety of citizens.
