Chandigarh, October 13
Taking serious note of the murder of Parvinder Singh Jhota, an anti-drug activist from Mansa, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has announced district-level protests across Punjab on Wednesday, demanding the immediate resignation of Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann. Addressing the media in Chandigarh, Punjab BJP State General Secretary Anil Sareen said that even the safety of people raising their voices against drugs in Punjab could no longer be guaranteed. He asked the government who would ensure justice and protection for those fighting against the drug menace. State Media Cell Convener Vineet Joshi and Pritpal Singh Baliewal were also present on the occasion.
Sareen said that Parvinder Singh Jhota had levelled allegations against Mansa MLA Vijay Singla, accusing him of facilitating the sale of drugs. He said that on the day of the incident, Jhota had informed a police DSP that he was going to apprehend drug peddlers. However, when he made phone calls from the spot, the DSP did not answer.
According to Sareen, this points towards a possible nexus between the police and drug traffickers. He demanded an impartial investigation into Jhota’s murder as well as all the allegations raised in the matter. Strict action must be taken against the drug mafia, and the Bhagwant Mann government must immediately resign, accepting moral responsibility for its failure.
Anil Sareen asked the government why people raising their voices against drugs were being forced to risk their lives instead of the government taking action against drug traffickers. He said that the allegations made by Jhota regarding the sale of drugs must be investigated impartially and that no guilty person should be spared.
The BJP leader said that incidents involving people who had raised their voices against drugs, including cases related to Mohanjeet Sheron and Gulzar Singh, should also be investigated. He questioned why the government was not ordering a probe into the alleged nexus between the police and drug traffickers if its intentions were sincere. Anil Sareen said that parents across Punjab were worried about the future of their children. The government must move beyond advertisements and statements and take concrete action against drug trafficking.