CHANDIGARH: A delegation of the Punjab Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) on Sunday submitted a memorandum to Governor Gulab Chand Kataria, raising serious concerns regarding the conduct of Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann and alleging misuse of state machinery by the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) government. The party has urged the Governor to seek a detailed report and initiate necessary action.
Information was available with The Chenab Times that the memorandum, submitted at the Lok Bhawan, highlighted alleged constitutional misconduct, deterioration of governance, and the AAP government’s recent actions against Members of Parliament who have joined the BJP. The delegation was led by Punjab BJP chief Sunil Jakhar and included working president Ashwani Sharma, along with leaders Preneet Kaur, Shwait Malik, Vineet Joshi, and Tikshan Sud.
The memorandum stated, “We write to you with deep concern over a series of disturbing developments that raise serious questions about governance, constitutional propriety, and the overall security framework in the state of Punjab.” The BJP leaders specifically pointed to reports of Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann attending a special session of the Punjab Legislative Assembly on May 1 in an alleged inebriated state. The party described such conduct as a grave affront to the dignity of the House and a subversion of democratic institutions, raising questions about Mann’s capacity to fulfill his constitutional duties.
“Punjab is a sensitive border state, facing both internal and external security challenges. The leadership of such a state demands utmost responsibility, alertness, and discipline,” the memorandum emphasized, urging the Governor to seek an explanation and recommend actions, potentially including the Chief Minister’s removal, in the interest of preserving constitutional integrity and public trust.
Addressing reporters after the meeting, Sunil Jakhar stated that he informed the Governor that Chief Minister Mann is not fit to lead any state. Jakhar also brought to the Governor’s attention the alleged humiliation of two Punjab ministers and a senior bureaucrat during a state cabinet meeting shortly before the assembly session commenced. He urged the Governor to seek a report on this matter and ensure protection for the administration.
The BJP further alleged a disturbing pattern in the allocation and withdrawal of police security in Punjab, suggesting political bias rather than objective threat assessment. The memorandum noted the abrupt withdrawal of security cover for five Rajya Sabha members who joined the BJP. In contrast, it pointed out that the security cover of AAP MLA Raman Arora, despite his arrest in a corruption case, was reportedly restored after he attended the May 1 assembly session and voted in favour of the government in a confidence motion. The party contended that these actions reflect discriminatory practices and question the neutrality of state machinery, asserting that security provisions must be based strictly on threat perception, not political affiliation.
Jakhar also stated that the BJP would not be intimidated by the registration of two First Information Reports (FIRs) against newly joined Rajya Sabha MP Sandeep Pathak. He alleged that the AAP government filed these FIRs to send a message to its MLAs about potential legal action if they switched allegiance. While acknowledging that the Mann government recently won a confidence motion, Jakhar alluded to the possibility of AAP MLAs approaching the Governor if they believed they held a majority.
The memorandum also raised concerns about the alleged misuse of state agencies to target political opponents. The registration of FIRs against Rajya Sabha MP Sandeep Pathak was widely perceived as political vendetta following his departure from the ruling AAP. Similarly, the Punjab Pollution Control Board’s action against Trident Group owner and Rajya Sabha MP Rajinder Gupta, soon after his association with the BJP, was cited as evidence of regulatory institutions being used to settle political scores.
The BJP requested the Governor to initiate a detailed inquiry into the conduct of the Chief Minister and the alleged misuse of police and regulatory agencies for political purposes. The party concluded its memorandum by stating, “Punjab stands at a critical juncture. It is imperative to uphold democratic norms, institutional integrity, and public trust.”
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