PHAGWARA: Former Member of Parliament Avinash Rai Khanna on Wednesday expressed grave concern over the deteriorating law and order situation in Punjab, alleging that the state has slipped into “jungle raj” under the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) government. Citing three shooting incidents reported within the last five days in Jalandhar, Balachaur and Hoshiarpur, Khanna said these events clearly demonstrate the failure of the Bhagwant Mann-led government to maintain public safety.
Khanna stated that the law and order machinery in Punjab has virtually collapsed and that the AAP government has lost all control over crime. He alleged that criminal activities, including shootings, extortion, looting and the drug trade, have increased alarmingly, leaving citizens feeling unsafe in their own state. According to him, the government is more focused on pursuing its political interests than ensuring the security of the people.
Expressing deep concern over the prevailing situation, Khanna said that under such circumstances, talking about development in Punjab is meaningless, as the fundamental right to safety and security of the citizens has already been compromised. He held the state government directly responsible for the rising incidents of violence, claiming that weak leadership has pushed Punjab towards darkness and instability, the consequences of which are being borne by innocent people.
Drawing a comparison with Uttar Pradesh, Khanna said that crime has been effectively curbed there under the leadership of Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath, while Punjab is witnessing a return to conditions similar to Uttar Pradesh’s past era of lawlessness. He asserted that the contrast highlights the failure of governance in Punjab.