Raja Warring: Punjab govt using state machinery to target Opposition leaders

Punjab Pradesh Congress Committee president Amrinder Singh Raja Warring extended greetings to the people on the birth anniversary of Dr BR Ambedkar, the chief architect of the Indian Constitution, during his visit to the city today. Paying floral tributes to Dr Ambedkar, Warring said that his legacy continues to inspire the fight for justice and equality in the country.

Speaking to the media, Warring came out strongly in support of senior Congress leader Pratap Singh Bajwa, against whom a case was registered yesterday. He termed the action taken by the Punjab government as condemnable and accused the ruling Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) of using state machinery to intimidate Opposition leaders. “The government cannot silence its critics through such pressure tactics. The entire Congress party will collectively deliberate on the next course of action,” he stated.

He revealed that a police notice had been pasted outside Bajwa’s residence, summoning him for appearance the next day. However, due to pre-scheduled engagements, Bajwa had responded to the notice, informing police of his inability to attend. Warring further asserted that Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann should be aware about the information shared by Bajwa regarding security threats. He emphasised that Central agencies had already warned the state government about the possibility of a grenade attack on a prominent Hindu leader in Punjab. “Instead of focusing on the security of common citizens, the Mann government seems to be using the police force to suppress Opposition voices,” Warring alleged.

He said only 23 months are left for AAP’s term in power, and with the Model Code of Conduct expected to kick in three months prior to elections, filing cases against Opposition leaders may ultimately backfire on the ruling party, adding that the Opposition leader is not even allowed to speak freely in the Assembly. “The entire world has seen the kind of behaviour on display inside the VS,” he remarked, criticising the AAP government’s handling of dissenting voices.