Jhota murder: Pargat Singh says Mann govt shielding drug traffickers

Punjab Congress chief Pargat Singh on Friday joined the sit-in at Mansa seeking justice for slain anti-drug activist Parvinder Singh Jhotta and asked Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann to step down, saying a government that cannot keep its young people alive has no moral right to stay in office.

Speaking at the protest site, the Punjab Pradesh Congress Committee (PPCC) president accused the AAP government of shielding the people behind the drug trade. “Why are big drug traffickers and their networks enjoying government protection?” he asked. “Punjab’s youth are dying of drugs while this government is busy with advertisements and empty claims.”

Jhotta, a Mansa-based activist, was known for confronting suspected peddlers and exposing the alleged sale of addictive pharmaceutical drugs through chemist shops. He was shot dead in Mansa on October 13. Police later arrested Ashwani Kumar, a medical store owner, in Salasar, Rajasthan, on charges of shooting him. The killing triggered a Punjab bandh, with protesters demanding justice for Jhotta and a drug-free state.

“People have been forced onto the streets to seek justice for a man who spoke up against drugs. That itself proves the government has failed,” Pargat Singh said. “A government that claims it is wiping out drugs could not even give justice to those fighting this menace.” He demanded justice for Jhotta’s family and guaranteed safety for everyone who speaks out against drugs.

A family’s grief in Bhamme Kalan

Pargat Singh also went to village Bhamme Kalan, home of Daljit Singh, a young man who died of drugs. He met Daljit’s mother and wife.

Daljit’s death had already drawn attention to the Mansa protest. On Tuesday, relatives and supporters, who suspect he died of an overdose, tried to carry his body to the Jhotta protest site. Police stopped them on the way, clashes broke out, and police dispersed the crowd and detained several people.

“A mother has lost her son. A wife has lost her life partner. The children no longer have a father to lean on,” Pargat Singh said. “Does the Chief Minister have any answer for these tears and these broken homes?”

He said the cries of mothers, the pain of widows and children left orphaned show the “real picture of Rangla Punjab”, a dig at the AAP government’s slogan.

‘No more bodies, no more lies’

Pargat Singh reminded AAP that it had promised a drug-free Punjab before coming to power. “Today it is running away from that promise,” he said.

He said the Congress would stand by the affected families and keep fighting until Daljit Singh’s family and Jhotta get justice.

“Punjab will not put up with more dead bodies, more shattered families and more government lies,” he said. “Bhagwant Mann must answer to the people and resign, owning up to his government’s failure.”