In a major political escalation, Punjab Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) President Sunil Jakhar on Saturday directly challenged Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann, demanding an immediate forensic investigation into a controversial video allegedly linked to him or his resignation from office.
Double Standards in Probe? Jakhar Questions Police Urgency
Launching a sharp attack, Jakhar pointed to the Punjab Police's swift action in the case involving Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) leader and former Delhi minister Atishi. He noted that the police had cleared a video related to Atishi within just 24 hours after a forensic examination.
"If Atishi's clip can be examined in a day, why not the chief minister's?" Jakhar questioned. He asserted that the deliberate delay in applying the same urgency to the CM's case raises serious suspicions about the authenticity of the material and the government's intentions.
Moral Authority and Unexplained Silence on Other Clips
The BJP state chief argued that Mann's apparent reluctance to order a transparent probe undermines his moral right to remain in power. "If he lacks the courage to get the video tested, he should resign," Jakhar stated firmly.
He also brought up another unresolved issue—an audio clip allegedly involving the Patiala Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) discussing election rigging. Jakhar claimed this audio has been circulating for weeks without any investigative action, despite related high court orders. "This silence suggests these clips could be genuine," he alleged.
Governance Failure and Announcement of Protest
Taking a broader swipe at the ruling AAP, Jakhar cited Atishi's recent admission in the assembly about using the word "dogs" as indicative of the party's mindset. He contrasted this with the CM convening a special session to honour Guru Tegh Bahadur, calling it hypocritical.
Jakhar accused the Mann government of presiding over a complete collapse in law and order, alongside rampant drug abuse and rising corruption. Declaring that "Punjab is virtually without a government," he labelled AAP's governance a total failure.
To escalate the pressure, Sunil Jakhar announced that BJP workers will gherao (surround) the Chief Minister's residence in Chandigarh on January 16. This planned protest aims to force the government into action on these explosive allegations.
