SSP Mansa Must Be Dismissed; Chief Minister Mann and DGP Must Resign : Pargat Singh

SSP Mansa Must Be Dismissed; Chief Minister Mann and DGP Must Resign : Pargat Singh

AAP Government Has Created Emergency-Like Conditions in Punjab; Serious Questions Over Law and Order and Police Functioning

Punjab Risks Being Pushed Towards Afghanistan-Like Conditions; Centre Treating the State Unfairly : Pargat Singh

Questions Raised Over Police Taking the Deceased’s Body Away from His Family and Failing to Disclose the Whereabouts of an Arrested Student Leader

Chandigarh 28 October ( Ranjeet Singh Dhaliwal ) : Punjab Congress President Pargat Singh launched a sharp attack on the Bhagwant Mann-led government over the death of Parminder Singh Jhota in Mansa and the developments that followed. He demanded the dismissal of the SSP Mansa over alleged negligence in the case and called upon Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann and DGP Gaurav Yadav to resign, taking moral responsibility for the situation. Pargat Singh said the functioning of the police administration had come under serious scrutiny. He questioned the basis for declaring the death a murder without an impartial investigation if there was a suspicion of death due to a drug overdose. He demanded a transparent investigation and accountability for the officials responsible. Pargat Singh said Punjab was witnessing a situation in which public confidence in the police and administration was steadily eroding. He described the alleged incident of police taking the deceased’s body away from his family as extremely serious. Such images, he said, were deeply disturbing for any democratic system and raised concerns about the emergence of emergency-like conditions in Punjab. The government’s responsibility is to listen to people and act in accordance with the law, not to suppress public anger through force. He appealed to the people of Punjab to remain calm amid emotional distress while continuing to stand firm in their demand for justice and their constitutional rights.

Pargat Singh also questioned the failure of the police to disclose the whereabouts of the arrested student union president. He asked why the police were not clarifying where the student leader was being held and what her legal status was, if she had indeed been arrested. He said transparency and adherence to due legal process were essential in every case of arrest and detention. Maintaining law and order in Punjab is the responsibility of the government and the police administration. If people begin to feel that their voices are being silenced and that they must struggle even to secure their own rights, it should serve as a serious warning for the governance system. Targeting the Central Government, the Punjab Congress President questioned Union Home Minister Amit Shah over what he described as discriminatory treatment of Punjab. He said that as a border state, Punjab faced serious challenges, including drug and arms smuggling, which required effective coordination and joint action by the Centre and the state government. He alleged that amid the political contest between the BJP and the Aam Aadmi Party, Punjab’s real concerns were being pushed into the background. He held both governments responsible for the prevailing situation in the state.

Pargat Singh warned that unless serious action was taken on drugs, unemployment, law and order, and administrative accountability, conditions in Punjab could deteriorate further. He said the state must not be allowed to reach a situation where instability and violence begin to disrupt the daily lives of ordinary people. He appealed to the people to remain calm and help preserve Punjab’s peace, harmony and brotherhood. Referring to the issue surrounding the alleged issuance of an arms licence to the person who killed Parminder Singh Jhota, Pargat Singh said that if the CBI was investigating the matter, the findings should be made public. It must be clarified whether any irregularities had occurred in the process of issuing the licence, he said. He stressed that the questions being raised about the functioning of the police and civil administration required an impartial investigation.

Commenting on Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann wearing a basanti (saffron-yellow) turban, Pargat Singh said that respect for Shaheed-e-Azam Bhagat Singh’s legacy could not be demonstrated through symbols alone. True respect, he said, must be reflected in adherence to Bhagat Singh’s ideals and in accountability to the people. Pargat Singh also demanded an impartial investigation and transparency regarding the alleged ₹10,000-crore scam linked to GMADA and claims that the name of Delhi-based leader Amarinder Jha had surfaced in connection with it. He said that allegations of such a serious nature must be investigated fairly and the facts placed before the public.