In a significant political development, Punjab BJP President Sunil Jakhar has demanded an independent investigation under the supervision of the high court to verify the authenticity of a purported video involving Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann. This call comes just three days after the acting jathedar of Akal Takht, Giani Kuldeep Singh Gargaj, summoned the Chief Minister over the same clip.
Demand for Impartial Probe and Moral Question
Speaking at a public event in Pholriwal village related to the Centre's VB-G RAM G scheme on Thursday, Jakhar presented a sharp contrast in the Chief Minister's stance. "On one hand, Mann is talking about making laws to award the death penalty to those guilty of sacrilege. But, on the other hand, an objectionable video related to sacrilege involving him is circulating," Jakhar stated. He emphasized that a fair investigation must determine if the video is genuine or created using artificial intelligence (AI).
Jakhar went a step further, asserting that if the video is proven real, such a person has no moral right to occupy the chair of the Chief Minister of Punjab. He also demanded that a special session of the Punjab Legislative Assembly be convened to address this pressing issue.
Criticism of Governance and Spending
Beyond the video controversy, the BJP leader launched a broadside against the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) government's governance model. He accused Chief Minister Mann of misusing taxpayers' money by funding advertisements across the country to serve political interests. Jakhar questioned how advertising in other states benefits the people of Punjab, arguing that if this substantial expenditure were redirected towards development projects, the state's residents would see real benefits.
He also challenged the CM to publicly disclose the amount of funds released by the state government for village development over the past four years, casting doubt on the administration's commitment to rural progress.
Law, Order, and Policy Failures Highlighted
Jakhar pointed to a grim statistic to underline the deteriorating security situation in the state. He noted that Punjab was shaken by nine murders in just seven days, which he presented as a clear reflection of the collapsing law and order machinery under the current government.
On the rampant drug abuse issue, he criticized the government for launching the second phase of its anti-drug campaign. "By doing so, the govt indirectly admitted that the police are no longer capable of controlling the situation and that people must now protect their own homes," he remarked. Furthermore, he labeled the state's health insurance scheme as "deceptive," claiming that the government's premium payment actually covers treatment only up to Rs 1 lakh, not the advertised Rs 10 lakh.
The series of allegations and the demand for a high-level probe have intensified the political climate in Punjab, setting the stage for a major confrontation between the ruling AAP and the opposition BJP.
