With the Punjab Assembly elections approaching, the Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann-led AAP government in Punjab is facing a series of controversies and challenges on the law and order, governance and corruption fronts.
Here’s a look at the challenges the ruling party faces before the elections, due early next year.
The suicide of a Dalit man, Gulzar Singh, in Sangrur has emerged as a major political challenge for the AAP government. His family alleged that he was harassed and subjected to casteist slurs for questioning Finance Minister Harpal Singh Cheema about the supply of drugs in his area at an event in Dirba the day before. The High Court has sought a status report in the case and raised questions over the allegations involving a sitting minister. The allegation was made by former Punjab and Haryana High Court judge Justice Ranjit Singh. The matter has also attracted the attention of the National Human Rights Commission. Kaur has denied the allegations and issued a legal notice to the complainant. The controversies are unfolding against the backdrop of AAP’s major political promise to tackle the drug menace in Punjab. The Gulzar Singh case and the Mohanjeet Singh allegations have brought policing, drug trafficking, and law and order back into the political spotlight. Opposition parties are also making drugs and law and order key issues ahead of the elections. The larger challenge for the AAP government is that these controversies span multiple areas, including law and order, policing, allegations of corruption, employee dissatisfaction, and Centre-State friction.
Singh died on September 7 after allegedly consuming poison. 3. Rs 5 Crore Allegation Against Chief Minister’s Wife An allegation that Bhagwant Mann’s wife, Gurpreet Kaur, sought Rs 5 crore in connection with a rape case has created another political controversy for the ruling camp.
Cheema has denied the allegations and said he will present evidence in his defence.
With several matters before the courts and political parties sharpening their attacks ahead of the polls, the government faces scrutiny on multiple fronts.
