Law And Order In Punjab Is 'Horrible', Centre Must Intercede: Former CM Amarinder Singh Flays AAP

Hitting out at the Punjab government, Former CM Capt Amarinder Singh alleged that CM Bhagwant Mann is not "interested" in what is going on in Punjab as the law and order situation has deteriorated.

Former Punjab chief minister Captain Amarinder Singh | File photo of Followers of 'Waris Punjab De' founder Amritpal Singh clashing with the police while breaking through barricades at the police station in protest against filing of FIR against him and his associates, at Ajnala near Amritsar, Thursday, Feb. 23,

Source : ANI | PTI

New Delhi: Former Punjab chief minister Captain Amarinder Singh on Sunday criticised the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP)-led state government over the law and order situation in the state and said that the Centre should intervene.

Speaking to news agency ANI on Sunday, the BJP leader said, "He (CM Bhagwant Mann) is not interested in what is going on in Punjab. He is afraid of taking any steps. Police officials may have got orders not to take any steps during the Ajnala incident. The law and order has deteriorated in Punjab." 

"No government can run like this, the way this government is running. The day when Ajnala incident took place, Bhagwant Mann was sitting in Mumbai with Arvind Kejriwal," he remarked in reference to Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal and Bhagwant Mann's meeting with former Maharashtra chief minister Uddhav Thackeray at his Mumbai residence on Friday.

#WATCH | The law and order is not the Centre's subject. If they (Punjab Govt) are not able to handle it then Government of India will have to take charge. There are drones getting caught every single day, I think Centre must see it: Former Punjab CM Captain Amarinder Singh pic.twitter.com/K3CTSjQ1K5

— ANI (@ANI) February 26, 2023

The Army veteran raised concerns about the security situation saying, "The law and order situation in Punjab is horrible. The law and order is not the Centre's subject. If they (Punjab government) are not able to handle it then the central government will have to take charge. There are drones getting caught every single day, I think the Centre must see it".

Concerns over Punjab's law and order have resurfaced as thousands of supporters of Amritpal Singh, a Khalistan sympathiser and the chief of the outfit 'Waris Punjab De', staged a massive demonstration in Amritsar to protest against the arrest of his aide Lovepreet Singh Toofan.

The supporters had swords and guns in their hands, they broke through police barricades erected outside the Ajnala police station. The police later said "in the light of the evidence presented", it has been decided that Lovepreet Singh Toofan will be discharged.

Lovepreet Singh was released from jail on Friday after a court in Ajnala passed an order for it on an application by the police.

DGP Gaurav Yadav said that appropriate action will be taken against the people involved in the Anjala incident. 

Meanwhile, amid concerns, Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann on Friday said that the law and order situation is under control.

When asked about the Anjala case, he responded saying: "You have the wrong information. Law & order in Punjab is under control. Punjab Police is capable. Bullets were fired at social bonding in Punjab for 10 years, but people want to live together. Ours is a peaceful state..."

'Waris Punjab De' was founded by activist Deep Sidhu, who died in a road accident in February last year.