Fear of Extortion, Gunfire and Gangsters Grips Punjab; No One Is Safe Under the ‘Jhaadu’ Government : Pargat Singh

Fear of Extortion, Gunfire and Gangsters Grips Punjab; No One Is Safe Under the ‘Jhaadu’ Government : Pargat Singh

Patience of Punjabis Wearing Thin; Home Minister Bhagwant Mann Remains a Silent Spectator : Pargat Singh

Shooting Incident Involving an Amritsar Trader Reflects Punjab’s Deteriorating Law and Order Situation

Chandigarh 15 October ( Ranjeet Singh Dhaliwal ) : Punjab Pradesh Congress Committee (PPCC) President Pargat Singh has launched a sharp attack on the Aam Aadmi Party government over extortion threats, incidents of firing and the rising concerns surrounding criminal activities in the state. He said that after four and a half years of AAP rule, the deteriorating law and order situation has left people in Punjab feeling unsafe. Traders and ordinary citizens are increasingly worried about their security, with businessmen allegedly being targeted with gunfire when they refuse to pay extortion money. Meanwhile, Punjab Home Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann, he alleged, continues to remain a silent spectator.

Pargat Singh said that every trader and small business owner in Punjab deserves a safe and secure environment, not an inefficient government and a system of governance imposed from Delhi. He stressed that people who work hard to run their businesses and contribute to the state’s economy should not be forced to live under the constant threat of extortion and violence. Referring to the latest shooting incident involving a cloth merchant in Amritsar, Congress President Pargat Singh said that, according to reports, the trader was targeted at around 11 p.m. last night, allegedly over his refusal to pay extortion money. The trader escaped unharmed, while another person sitting with him sustained a bullet injury. He said the incident was not merely an attack on an individual trader but also highlighted the growing concerns over the safety and security of the business community in Punjab.

Pargat Singh said that when people running businesses in Punjab begin to fear extortion threats and gunfire, serious questions are bound to arise over the government’s accountability for maintaining law and order.  He questioned Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann’s role, pointing out that the Chief Minister also holds the Home portfolio and therefore cannot evade responsibility for the state’s law and order situation. He said the police must take prompt and effective action against criminals. Instead of relying on statements, the government must take concrete steps to dismantle the networks of gangsters and drug traffickers.

He said that incidents of murder, firing and extortion have pushed the patience of Punjabis to the limit. From small shopkeepers to large business owners, everyone deserves an environment in which they can conduct their business without fear. Traders should have the opportunity to expand their businesses and generate employment, rather than remain anxious about the safety of themselves and their families.

Pargat Singh demanded an impartial investigation into the Amritsar shooting incident, the prompt arrest of the accused and a thorough probe into any extortion network linked to the attack, followed by strict action against those involved. He said providing a safe environment for traders and ordinary citizens is a fundamental constitutional and administrative responsibility of the government, and those responsible must be held accountable.