Chandigarh, March 16 (UNI) Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann launched a blistering attack on union Home Minister Amit Shah on Monday, accusing the Central government of providing “VIP facilities” to incarcerated gangster Lawrence Bishnoi in Gujarat’s Sabarmati Jail.
Addressing a press conference, Mann alleged that while the Home Minister visits Punjab to lecture on the gangster menace, Bishnoi remains shielded in Gujarat under the pretext of security threats to prevent other agencies from gaining custody. The Chief Minister asserted that organised crime is a widespread issue affecting several states like Haryana, Uttar Pradesh, and Delhi, and even international territories like Canada, but emphasised that his government acts swiftly on every lead without providing political patronage to criminals.
Responding to Amit Shah’s recent remarks regarding a proposed law against religious conversion, Chief Minister Mann warned that such statements are an invitation to communal disharmony. He alleged that the BJP’s agenda is to incite “religious conflicts” in every state where they come to power.
Highlighting Punjab’s secular fabric, Mann stated that while the land of Punjab is fertile for all kinds of seeds, the “seed of hatred” can never grow here. He reminded the union Minister that Punjabis have a history of sacrificing their lives for other faiths and would not allow the state’s peaceful environment to be compromised for political gains.
As a piece of advise, the Chief Minister urged Shah to focus on genuine administrative solutions rather than foment communal divides. Mann stated that the people of Punjab are vigilant and recognise that the BJP’s rhetoric often serves as a precursor to religious strife. He reaffirmed his administration’s commitment to maintaining peace and brotherhood in the state, despite what he described as provocative challenges from the central leadership.
