Senior Congress leader and MP Rahul Gandhi has launched a scathing attack on the Bhagwant Mann-led Punjab government over the shocking murder of social activist Parvinder Singh Jhota. Raising serious concerns about the state's law and order, Gandhi questioned the administration over the safety of individuals who dare to raise their voice against the rampant drug menace.
Taking to the social media platform 'X', Rahul Gandhi stated that speaking out against drugs in Punjab has now become life-threatening under the AAP regime. He highlighted the daylight murder of Parvinder Singh Jhota in Mansa, who was running the 'Stop Drugs, Give Employment' campaign, pointing out that the chilling incident was clearly captured on a Facebook live stream.
Escalating Crackdown on Anti-Drug Voices
Gandhi also drew attention to other distressing incidents in the state. Citing the case of laborer Gulzar Singh in Sangrur—the Chief Minister's home district—he alleged that the victim's family was pressured to apologize after raising the drug issue before a minister, eventually leading to the laborer's tragic death. He also mentioned another activist, Mohanjit Singh, who allegedly faced custodial torture, with the matter currently sub-judice in the High Court.
Criticizing the handling of Jhota's case, Gandhi pointed out that when the activist initially filed a complaint against illegal practices, the police ended up filing an FIR against Jhota himself. He questioned how drug syndicates could fear the law when the system turns complainants into accused individuals, vowing that the Congress party will not rest until the narcotics network destroying Punjab's youth is completely dismantled.
Widespread Protest and 'Punjab Bandh' Impact
Following Jhota's tragic killing inside a medical store while he was questioning the illegal sale of prescription drugs, his family called for a statewide shutdown with the backing of various political parties, farm unions, and employee associations. The strike witnessed a notable response across districts like Hoshiarpur, Jalandhar, Ludhiana, Sangrur, and Mansa, where markets remained shut and several private educational institutions declared a holiday, though essential services like hospitals continued to function normally.
The main accused, Ashwani Kumar, was later arrested from Rajasthan following police action, but the incident has intensified political friction over the state's drug crisis and security framework. While Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann assured the strictest punishment for the culprit, public outrage and protests continue to reverberate across the region.
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