The Fact News Service
Chandigarh, May 30
Senior Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) leaders Baltej Pannu and Neel Garg launched a scathing critique of Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) president Sukhbir Singh Badal, following his recent statements alleging a nexus between the police and gangsters in Punjab under the current government.
Speaking on the issue, AAP leader Baltej Pannu remarked, “The people of Punjab have rejected Sukhbir Badal so decisively that it has become a popular saying in the state: Dinosaurs may return, but the Badals will not come back to power. Ironically, Sukhbir Badal, who once dismissed peaceful protesters as irrelevant, now finds himself organizing desperate protests to stay relevant.”
Highlighting the hypocrisy in Sukhbir Badal’s remarks, Pannu added, “Badal Sahib talks about a nexus between police and gangsters, forgetting that it was during his tenure as Home Minister that Punjab became a breeding ground for such nexuses. Events like the Nabha jail break, where gangsters escaped under suspicious circumstances, unfolded under his watch. In contrast, the AAP government has ensured swift justice, evident in the arrest of the culprits involved in the murder of an MC within 24 hours. Can Badal cite a single instance where his government acted with such efficiency?”
AAP’s senior spokesperson Neel Garg also weighed in, accusing the SAD of fostering criminal elements in Punjab. He stated, “Sukhbir Badal’s statement reflects the saying, ‘The pot calls the kettle black.’ Before 2007, Punjab had no history of gangster culture. It was under the SAD government that mafias and gangsters took roots: sand mafia, land mafia, transport mafia, and even drug trafficking networks thrived under their patronage. These mafias, nurtured by the Badals, have caused irreparable damage to Punjab.”
Garg further emphasized the contrast between the SAD’s legacy and the AAP government’s commitment to the people of Punjab. “Under the leadership of CM Bhagwant Mann, the AAP government is resolute in eradicating criminal nexuses, whether involving gangsters, politicians, or the police. We are undoing the damage caused by decade of SAD misrule. Law and order in Punjab are now stronger than ever, unlike during the Akali regime when even police personnel’s families were unsafe,” he asserted.
AAP leaders urged Sukhbir Badal to reflect on his party’s contribution to Punjab’s woes instead of spreading misinformation. “Punjab’s people remember how SAD failed to protect their rights and dignity. Today, AAP’s governance is restoring hope and ensuring justice for all. Sukhbir Badal should stop misleading the public and accept the reality of their rejection by the people,” concluded Neel Garg.
