Punjab BJP and SAD Launch Scathing Attacks on AAP Government Over Law and Order
The political atmosphere in Punjab heated up significantly on Wednesday as both the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and the Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) launched coordinated and severe criticisms against the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP)-led state government. The attacks were centered around two recent murder cases that have brought the spotlight back on the deteriorating law and order situation in Punjab.
BJP Expresses Grave Concern Over Rising Criminal Activities
Punjab BJP president Sunil Jakhar issued a strongly worded written statement expressing deep concern about what he described as the continuously worsening security environment in the state. "Where is the Punjab government? Criminals are carrying out murders openly," Jakhar questioned pointedly.
He highlighted two specific incidents that have shaken public confidence:
- The tragic shooting of a chemist in Dera Baba Nanak who was reportedly killed for refusing extortion demands
- The brazen murder of an undertrial right outside the Mohali District Courts, just hours after the first incident
"The fact that criminals carried out an attack right outside the SSP office in Mohali shows that the fear of the government among criminals has completely vanished," Jakhar emphasized, underscoring the audacity of the criminal elements operating in the state.
SAD Questions the Effectiveness of Punjab's War on Gangsters
Echoing similar concerns, SAD president Sukhbir Singh Badal took to social media platform X to deliver a blistering critique of the AAP government's much-publicized campaign against organized crime. "Two brazen daylight murders expose @AamAadmiParty government's hollow 'War on Gangsters'!" Badal declared in his post.
Badal provided additional context to highlight the severity of the situation:
- Punjab witnessed nearly 20 murders in January 2026 alone
- This includes the stabbing of Head Constable Amandeep Singh in Nabha market just three days prior to these incidents
- The chemist murdered in Dera Baba Nanak had reportedly been attacked once before, indicating a pattern of targeted violence
"Criminals strike with ZERO fear while Chief Minister @BhagwantMann remains busy in fake publicity!" Badal accused, adding that "Punjabis now live in terror as gangsters rule the state."
Broader Accusations Against the AAP Government
Both opposition parties expanded their criticism beyond the immediate incidents to question the overall governance of the AAP administration. Jakhar asserted that "the AAP government led by Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann has failed on every front, but its failure on the law and order front is snatching away the very basic right to live from the people."
He further claimed that "no one in Punjab feels safe" under the current administration and accused the chief minister of prioritizing political obligations over state responsibilities. "Instead of taking care of his state, the chief minister remains busy pleasing his Delhi-based bosses," Jakhar added, in a clear reference to the AAP's national leadership.
Badal concluded with a direct call for political accountability: "He doesn't deserve the chair—Punjabis now live in terror as gangsters rule the state. Enough. Bhagwant Mann must go NOW!"
The coordinated attacks from both major opposition parties represent a significant political challenge for the AAP government in Punjab, which came to power with promises of improved governance and security. The incidents in Dera Baba Nanak and Mohali have provided fresh ammunition for critics who argue that the state's war against gangsters has yielded insufficient results, leaving ordinary citizens vulnerable to violent crime.
