Anti-Drug Activist Murdered in Mansa: Akali Dal Slams Mann Govt
Shiromani Akali Dal leader Daljit Singh Cheema slams Bhagwant Mann's government after anti-drug activist Parminder Jhota was shot dead in Mansa.
The brutal murder of anti-drug activist Parminder Jhota in Mansa has ignited a massive political firestorm across Punjab, with opposition leaders accusing the Bhagwant Mann-led government of failing to maintain law and order.
Jhota, a dedicated social activist who had spent the last five to six years leading movements against the narcotics trade, was shot dead by a chemist allegedly involved in drug trafficking. The assassination occurred in a shocking manner while Jhota was being interviewed live.
A Living Example of Lawlessness
Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) leader Daljit Singh Cheema expressed deep outrage over the incident, questioning the safety of anyone working for the state. He noted that Jhota had been a persistent thorn in the side of the drug mafia, often protesting at sites of drug abuse, even though the police had previously sent him to jail on several occasions.
“Today, a chemist involved in drug trafficking pulled out a pistol and shot him while he was being interviewed live. This is a living example of the state of law and order in Punjab,” Cheema stated. He further challenged the ruling government, asking, “The police themselves are not safe, and anti-drug activists are not safe. So, how is Bhagwant Mann's government fighting the war against drugs?”
Opposition Alleges Systematic Suppression
The criticism was not limited to the Akali Dal. Congress MLA Rana Gurjit Singh also took aim at the administration, suggesting that there had been previous attempts to silence Jhota's activism. He alleged that the activist had faced pressure to stop his work, even when the government appeared to be trying to suppress his efforts.
Singh voiced a growing public frustration, suggesting that the drug trade and law enforcement might be uncomfortably linked. “I believe the police are behind it because drugs don't sell without money. The state government keeps the people confused with new slogans and does not address the real issue,” he remarked.
BJP Questions 'Drug-Free Punjab' Claims
BJP leader RP Singh hit out at the government's core campaign promises, highlighting the irony of the situation. He pointed out that while the state government claims to be making Punjab drug-free, the very people leading the charge against drugs are being murdered by the traffickers themselves.
According to RP Singh, the drug mafia now dominates the state's administrative and police machinery. He claimed that the entire police system has become compromised, serving political interests rather than protecting citizens. “Extortionists and haftas dominate the police... the entire police system is busy serving the politicians from Delhi,” he alleged.
The victim, Parminder Singh Jhota, was rushed to a hospital with bullet injuries following the shooting but ultimately succumbed to his wounds. The incident has left the residents of Mansa and the wider state in shock, as the debate over the effectiveness of Punjab's anti-drug policies intensifies.