Akali Dal using gangsters as a political weapon, Tarn Taran by-election an example: Laljit Singh Bhullar

Chandigarh(The Uttam Hindu): The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) has levelled serious allegations against Shiromani Akali Dal President Sukhbir Singh Badal for promoting “gangsterism” during the Tarn Taran by-election and criminalising politics. Addressing a press conference here today, Punjab Cabinet Minister Laljit Singh Bhullar said that Sukhbir Badal created an atmosphere of fear and intimidation in Tarn Taran by giving a ticket to a gangster’s mother-in-law and seeking votes by threatening people.

He said that by making a gangster’s mother-in-law the candidate, Sukhbir Badal tried to send a clear message that in the future any gangster can make a phone call, issue threats, get someone elected as sarpanch or councillor, and then even secure an MLA ticket for their relative.

He revealed that when the AAP team was campaigning in the constituency, people were extremely frightened. Bhullar said, “When we appealed to people to vote, they would fold their hands and tell us that they were receiving threatening calls and asked us not to come to them.” People were threatened that if they did not vote for the Akali Dal, their family members would be killed. Bhullar clarified that the votes cast in favour of Akali Dal in Tarn Taran were not in support of the party but were votes cast under an atmosphere of fear.

The Cabinet Minister demanded a high-level investigation into the entire matter. He said, “I request the Central Government and Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann to set up an SIT for this.” This will help uncover which leaders are in touch with gangsters, whether based in India or abroad, who communicates with them over phone calls. He said that the government today has the technology to trace WhatsApp calls, chats, and even FaceTime activities. Strict action should be taken against any leader (from any party) found involved in this.

Bhullar alleged that Sukhbir Badal is trying to implement this “Tarn Taran Model” across Punjab. Referring to the murder of Sarpanch Sonu Cheema, he stated that the FIR in the case includes the name of the Akali Dal candidate’s son-in-law. Similarly, Sarpanch Lalu Ghumman was murdered by gangsters simply because he did not support their preferred candidate. He said that the Akali candidate was given the ticket purely on the basis that gangsters had threatened and secured victories for 40 sarpanches and 8 councillors (MCs), with intimidation.

The AAP Minister asserted that if gangsters have emerged in Punjab, it is due to the previous Akali–Congress governments. He said that the Mann Government is working to uproot the thorns planted in politics by these past governments.

Taking a dig at Sukhbir Badal, he said that Tarn Taran, which was once a Panthic stronghold of the Akali Dal, has been destroyed by Sukhbir Badal by granting pardons to certain dera leaders and by not taking action against those accused of sacrilege. Bhullar said that unless Sukhbir Badal distances himself from the Akali Dal, the party cannot survive.