BJP using gangsters to threaten opposition states, alleges Punjab minister Harpal Cheema

Chandigarh. Punjab Cabinet Minister Harpal Singh Cheema on Monday accused the BJP of protecting gangsters. He alleged the party was using them to scare political rivals and unsettle governments in states ruled by opposition parties.

“The BJP is using gangsters to intimidate people and disrupt law and order in states governed by opposition parties,” the senior AAP leader said at a press conference here.

As his example, Cheema pointed to gangster Gurwinder Singh alias Afridi. Punjab Police brought Afridi back to India from Ethiopia on Saturday (November 7). Cheema said Afridi had got a fake passport in Uttar Pradesh, flown to the UAE and then moved on to Ethiopia.

“How did a notorious gangster like Gurwinder Singh alias Afridi manage to procure a fake passport in Uttar Pradesh, a state governed by the BJP? The BJP must answer how such notorious criminals are able to operate from states where its governments are in power,” he said.

What did Cheema say about Lawrence Bishnoi?

Cheema also raised gangster Lawrence Bishnoi, who is lodged in Gujarat’s Sabarmati Jail. “Questions must also be raised about gangster Lawrence Bishnoi,” he said.

“Gangsters are being provided protection and used to issue threat calls to intimidate political opponents in opposition-ruled states,” he alleged. He called the BJP’s “patronage” of such people part of “a larger attempt to destabilise elected governments and create an atmosphere of fear”.

Who is gangster Afridi?

Afridi headed a gang, faces more than 30 criminal cases and carried a reward of up to ₹5 lakh. Punjab Police secured his deportation from Ethiopia.

Cheema said Afridi is an accused in the murders of sarpanch Rajwinder Singh, 12-year-old Gursewak Singh, Vicky Chugh, Jaswant Singh and Congress block president Gurmail Singh. “Our government is committed to ensuring that every criminal involved in such heinous offences is brought to justice,” he said.

Whom else did Cheema blame?

He blamed the Congress and the Akali Dal too. “These gangsters were created and nurtured during the Akali-BJP rule and allowed to flourish under the Congress. The Bhagwant Mann government is now taking decisive action against all of them,” he said.

Which other gangsters have been brought back from abroad?

Cheema claimed the Mann government has brought back more notorious gangsters from foreign countries than BJP governments have. He said no criminal can escape the law. So far, Punjab has secured the deportation of 15 proclaimed offenders and the extradition of two more.

The minister named the gangsters brought back:

Hong Kong: Ramanjit Singh Romi

Maldives: Amrit Singh

Germany: Prabhpreet Singh

UAE: Parminder Singh Pindi

Indonesia: Sajjan Mahesh and Sukhdev Kumar Manish Baidi

Malaysia: Ajay Singh, Pawandeep Singh and Jaspreet Singh

Canada: Karmbir Singh Deol

“These operations demonstrate the determination and capabilities of our police force in pursuing criminals beyond geographical boundaries,” he said.

How big is the ‘Gangstran Te Vaar’ drive?

Under the ‘Gangstran Te Vaar’ (war on gangsters) campaign, Punjab Police carried out 1,61,266 raids between January 20 and November 7 this year. It arrested about 2,162 proclaimed offenders in that time.

“The anti-gangster campaign was launched immediately after the AAP government came to power in Punjab. Our government has given a clear mandate to Punjab Police to take decisive action against every gangster and criminal element, irrespective of where they are operating from,” Cheema said.

What happens next?

Cheema said the cases would now be fought in court. “Our government will present strong evidence against these criminals in courts and ensure that they receive appropriate punishment. Our objective is clear: to make Punjab a gangster-free state,” he said.

“The Bhagwant Mann government will not allow anyone to threaten the peace and security of Punjab,” he added.