CHANDIGARH/NEW DELHI: BJP national general secretary Tarun Chugh called for Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mannโs resignation, accusing him of demoralising the Punjab Police by allegedly linking their transfers to drug mafias or political allegiance during the recent Lok Sabha elections.
Chughโs demand came after Chief Minister Mann hinted at a large-scale transfer of over 10,000 Punjab Police personnel, insinuating connections with drug mafias or political bias. DGP Gaurav Yadav, however, contradicted Mannโs claims, asserting that the transfers were routine and unrelated to such allegations.
โSuch irresponsible statements by the Chief Minister are misleading and damaging to the morale of the Punjab Police,โ Chugh emphasised. He further highlighted discrepancies between Mannโs assertions and allegations from certain political quarters suggesting that the transfers were punitive measures against officers who did not support the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) during the elections.
โBlaming 10,000 policemen for alleged links with drug peddlers without evidence is not only baseless but also detrimental to the stateโs security apparatus,โ Chugh asserted. He criticised the AAP government for allegedly providing a conducive environment for drug mafias to operate freely in Punjab.
Chugh underscored the Chief Ministerโs moral responsibility in addressing the drug menace, accusing Mann of failure in curbing drug activities despite promises made during the election campaign.
โThe Chief Minister must clarify his stance on these serious allegations and take responsibility for the situation,โ Chugh demanded.
The controversy has stirred political tensions in Punjab, with opposition parties slamming the AAP governmentโs handling of law enforcement and alleging misuse of power for political gains.
Meanwhile, Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann has yet to respond to the BJPโs demands for his resignation, amidst growing scrutiny over the integrity of Punjabโs police force and the administrationโs commitment to combating drug trafficking.