Chandigarh, Jul 02: Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) National General Secretary, Tarun Chugh on Wednesday accused the Bhagwant Mann government of unleashing a “new era of Emergency” in Punjab, in which the Opposition’s voice is being muzzled.
Reacting strongly to the detention of former Deputy Chief Minister Sukhbir Badal and other senior Akali leaders in Mohali on Wednesday, Chugh alleged, “Draconian laws were being enforced in Punjab at the behest of Arvind Kejriwal, and all democratic rights of the Opposition to stage dharnas or protests are being blatantly violated by the AAP government.”
“Even peaceful protests are not being allowed in the state, which clearly indicates how oppressive the Kejriwal-driven Punjab government has become,” he said.
Chigh alleged that AAP leaders have not only made open threats in the Vidhan Sabha in the past, but are now detaining those who protest peacefully in a democratic manner. He termed it a “dangerous sign of the party’s authoritarian drift”.
He added, “AAP leaders have started threatening Opposition leaders, including Bikram Majithia, with remarks like ‘Dekh Lenge”, which reflects the party’s growing intolerance and political vindictiveness.”
The BJP leader said Kejriwal has become “another version of autocratic Indira Gandhi”, having turned Punjab into a jail where all democratic rights are being denied. “Instead of acting against various mafias operating in the state, the Bhagwant Mann government is targeting the Opposition to hide its failures on all fronts,” he said.
