The resignations of Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) MLAs Harmeet Singh Pathanmajra and Chetan Singh Jauramajra have triggered fresh political turmoil in Punjab, with the two legislators explaining their decision to part ways with the party by launching a blistering attack on its leadership and the Bhagwant Mann government.
They also questioned Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann’s government over its failure to deliver on several key electoral promises. The strongest criticism was directed at the government’s promise to make Punjab drug-free and corruption-free. The legislators linked the incident to wider concerns over public safety and the law-and-order situation. On corruption, they alleged that bribery continued in tehsil offices, police stations and other government establishments. Citing controversies involving former minister Vijay Singla, Sanjeev Arora and other cases, they questioned whether the government was following uniform standards while dealing with corruption allegations. The legislators also accused the government of failing to fulfil promises made to farmers, including guaranteed MSP for all crops, procurement of maize and moong, adequate availability of urea and issues concerning the PM-KISAN Samman Nidhi scheme. Dalit welfare, scholarships, political representation, the unfulfilled promise of a Dalit Deputy Chief Minister and cases of atrocities against Dalits were among the other issues raised. The legislators also questioned the government’s failure to ensure punishment for those responsible for sacrilege incidents.
They also questioned the government’s response to attacks on people working against drugs, citing the October 13-14 murder of anti-drug activist Parvinder Singh Jhota in Mansa.
Explaining the reasons behind their revolt, the MLAs said the party has moved away from the promises on which it had sought the mandate of Punjab’s people. The legislators questioned how the state continued to struggle with the sale of “chitta”, alleged home delivery of narcotics and the destruction of families due to addiction despite AAP being in power for more than four-and-a-half years.
