In a sharp escalation of political tensions, Congress legislator and former minister Pargat Singh has called for the immediate resignation of Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann. Singh squarely blames the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP)-led government for what he describes as an "unchecked surge in crime and violence" across the state, holding Mann directly responsible for the deteriorating security situation.
Alarming Spike in Violence Prompts Political Attack
Issuing a strongly-worded written statement on Sunday, the Jalandhar Cantonment MLA painted a grim picture of Punjab under the current administration. "The alarming state of affairs has crossed all limits," Singh stated. He argued that the government has lost its grip, with people living in constant fear and gangsters increasingly dominating the scene. According to the senior leader, Punjab has not seen such a pervasive atmosphere of lawlessness in recent years.
To substantiate his grave accusations, Pargat Singh cited a series of recent, brazen incidents. He highlighted that within a span of just 48 hours, two young political leaders were murdered in broad daylight. On Sunday, Jharnail Singh, a former AAP sarpanch from Valtoha, was brutally gunned down during a wedding function in Amritsar, in full view of numerous attendees.
This attack followed the ambush of Congress leader Umarseer Singh near village Bhindar Kalan in Moga just a day earlier. Singh was shot at while travelling in his car and riddled with over 20 bullets. The Congress MLA emphasized that when assassinations occur even at social gatherings, it signals a complete breakdown of the rule of law and the criminals' utter lack of fear.
A Direct Charge Against the Chief Minister
Pargat Singh placed the blame entirely at the doorstep of Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann, who also holds the portfolio of Home Minister. "When the home minister himself fails to ensure law and order, it is not just dereliction of duty, it is a moral and administrative collapse," he asserted. Singh accused the government of focusing its energies on VIP security and political publicity while leaving ordinary citizens to fend for themselves against rising criminal elements.
The former minister lamented that extortion, gang wars, and contract killings have become routine occurrences from villages to cities. "Punjab's peace, hard-earned over decades, stands shattered under this AAP regime," he claimed, adding that every household now lives under a shadow of fear.
Call for Resignation and Decisive Governance
In his concluding remarks, Pargat Singh declared that the Chief Minister's repeated assurances of a "safe and secure Punjab" now stand completely exposed. He argued that public faith in the AAP government and in CM Mann's leadership has evaporated. "Punjab needs decisive governance, not hollow slogans and excuses," Singh stated.
He ended his statement with a direct and personal challenge to Bhagwant Mann: "If Bhagwant Mann has any moral responsibility left, he should resign immediately." This demand marks a significant moment in the opposition's strategy to corner the state government on the critical issue of law and order, setting the stage for a fierce political battle in the coming days.
