AMRITSAR: Punjab BJP president Sunil Jakhar unleashed a blistering critique of Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann on Saturday, stating the AAP leader holds no ethical legitimacy to govern after a senior warehousing official’s suicide rocked Amritsar.
Gagandeep Singh Randhawa, district manager of the Punjab State Warehousing Corporation, took his life amid allegations of pressure from Minister Laljit Singh Bhullar. Jakhar, addressing the media, mourned the loss and pledged BJP’s unwavering commitment to securing justice for Randhawa’s family.
‘From gangsters extorting common folk to ministers squeezing officials—Punjab’s rot has seeped into the highest echelons,’ Jakhar lamented. He contrasted past hardships under gangster rule with the current crisis, where bureaucracy bows to political whims or faces dire consequences.
Bhullar’s name surfacing in the suicide note prompted his resignation at Mann’s behest. Yet Jakhar branded it insufficient: ‘This equates to murdering an official in broad daylight. File an FIR against Bhullar and cuff him now.’
The CM’s probe assignment to Chief Secretary KAP Sinha drew sharp ridicule. ‘Murder investigations by a bureaucrat? And one linked to Bhullar’s constituency disputes?’ Jakhar scoffed, underscoring the probe’s inherent bias.
Jakhar laid bare AAP’s governance facade: ‘Their honesty claims crumble under scrutiny. This cabinet is a criminal syndicate masquerading as ministers.’ He demanded Mann step down ethically and hand the case to an impartial body for swift resolution.
The episode underscores deepening fissures in Punjab’s political landscape, with opposition parties amplifying calls for transparency. As investigations loom, public outrage mounts over alleged ministerial overreach, potentially reshaping AAP’s image in the state.