Drug Peddling and Law & Order Situation Worsen, Mann Focuses on Rangla Punjab Festival: Bajwa

Chandigarh(The Uttam Hindu): Leader of the Opposition in the Punjab Assembly, Partap Singh Bajwa, on Wednesday criticized Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann for prioritizing the 'Rangla Punjab' festival amid the deteriorating law and order situation in the state. Bajwa questioned Mann’s effectiveness as Home Minister, citing his inability to address key issues affecting Punjab.

"Before celebrating the much-publicized Rangla Punjab festival, the AAP-led Punjab government must introspect whether they’ve made Punjab ‘Rangla’ (vibrant) or ‘Gandhla’ (toxic). The law and order situation has hit rock bottom, and drug peddling is flourishing under their regime," Bajwa stated. The senior Congress leader highlighted a string of recent incidents, including an explosion at the Islamabad police station in Amritsar on Tuesday. This marked the sixth blast in Punjab's border areas over the past two weeks. Bajwa also pointed to the rise in crimes committed by organized gangs, emphasizing CM Mann’s failure to curb such activities despite holding the Home portfolio.

Bajwa further criticized the government’s inability to tackle drug abuse. "CM Mann’s latest promise to make Punjab drug-free by December 31, 2024, is approaching, but the reality is evident to all Punjabis. Just two days ago, anti-drug crusader and Sarpanch of Chhanna Gulab Singh Wala village, Sukhjit Singh, was brutally murdered. The police under AAP have seemingly surrendered to drug peddlers," he added. In a written statement, Bajwa accused the government of relying on superficial events to mask its failures. "How can a sensible CM think of celebrating the Rangla Punjab festival when the ground reality is so grim? This is nothing but an attempt to divert attention from their incompetence," Bajwa concluded.