Former Punjab BJP president Sunil Jakhar said that after politicising the bureaucracy, the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) government in Punjab is openly criminalising politics. Calling this trend a major threat to democracy in a border state like Punjab, he said the BJP would never allow the AAP government’s actions to succeed.
Addressing a press conference, Jakhar said that during the local body elections and the subsequent elections for mayors and municipal council presidents, the Bhagwant Mann government misused the bureaucracy and undermined democratic processes in an unprecedented manner. He said the bureaucracy plays a vital role in democracy and the executive, with officials expected to function according to the Constitution.
However, he alleged that the current government has put such pressure on officials that they have lost not only their independence but, in many cases, even their conscience, leaving them compelled to serve the government rather than the public. He questioned where ordinary citizens could seek justice under such circumstances.
Speaking about what he described as the increasing criminalisation of politics, Jakhar alleged that the AAP government, having lost public support, is trying to intimidate voters by bringing criminal elements into politics. He warned that the politicisation of the bureaucracy and the criminalisation of politics could push Punjab back into a dark period.
He further asserted that although the bureaucracy has surrendered its authority to what he called a corrupt government and the government is trying to intimidate people by inducting criminal elements into politics, the BJP will not allow any anti-democratic or anti-Punjab actions by the government to succeed.
Jakhar also alleged that while the government publicly promotes “Operation Prahar” as a campaign against gangsters, it is simultaneously bringing criminal elements into politics through the “back door” and attempting to place them in positions of influence over the people of Punjab. He said the BJP would strongly oppose what he described as Arvind Kejriwal’s attempts to “exploit and suppress Punjab” and would not allow such plans to succeed.
Jakhar credited the people of Abohar and Fazilka, along with BJP workers, for the party’s recent victories in the Abohar Municipal Corporation and Fazilka Municipal Council leadership elections. Responding to another question, Jakhar said sanitation workers across Punjab are currently on strike over their demands, but the government is unwilling to address their concerns.
He also strongly condemned the Punjab government’s lathi-charge on MGNREGA workers, alleging that the AAP government is not serious about resolving issues affecting the public.