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Mann alleging that gangster Bishnoi continues to operate his criminal network from Gujarat’s Sabarmati Jail under BJP protection.
Chandigarh, July 11:
Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann on Friday launched a blistering attack on the BJP-led Central Government, alleging that gangster Lawrence Bishnoi continues to operate his criminal network from Gujarat’s Sabarmati Jail “under BJP protection.” Mann demanded that Bishnoi be brought back to a Punjab jail to break his alleged nexus with political patrons and dismantle his organized crime operations.
Speaking to reporters after the second day of the ongoing Punjab Vidhan Sabha session, the Chief Minister said, “We are exploring legal options to bring Lawrence Bishnoi back to Punjab custody. Keeping him in Sabarmati Jail has only emboldened his network, which operates freely from there under BJP’s shelter.”
Mann alleged that the notorious gangster’s influence has grown due to political backing and lax monitoring at Sabarmati Jail, and that only Punjab authorities can effectively neutralize the threat posed by him and his associates.
Personal Attack on Amit Shah and BJP
Taking his criticism a notch higher, Mann took a direct swipe at Union Home Minister Amit Shah, referring to him as “tadipaar”—a colloquial term used for someone banished from a region. “There was a time when Shah was ordered to stay out of Gujarat. Now, such people are holding the position of Home Minister. What can you expect from such a government?” Mann remarked, evoking reactions from both sides of the political aisle.
The Chief Minister also responded to BJP leader Manjinder Singh Sirsa’s recent legal notice to AAP Punjab president Aman Arora. Rather than addressing the legal threat directly, Mann questioned Sirsa’s moral authority, saying, “He should first answer who has sheltered gangsters and supported them politically.”
Questions Foreign Policy, Links Modi Visits to Corporate Gains
Mann further escalated his rhetoric by criticizing Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s foreign visits, alleging they are designed to promote private business interests, particularly those of industrialist Gautam Adani.
Reacting to the Ministry of External Affairs’ disapproval of his earlier comments on the Prime Minister’s overseas engagements, Mann asked, “Can’t I question the foreign policy? Wherever the PM goes, why do Adani’s businesses follow? Is it just a coincidence? Are these visits about diplomacy or about promoting private conglomerates?”
He added, “Do foreign nations invite you, or does he (Adani) take you along? The country has a right to know.”
Slams Modi’s Global Tours Amid Domestic Issues
Mann also criticized the Centre’s handling of foreign relations, alleging that India’s diplomatic standing has weakened under the current government. “When tensions with Pakistan rise, not a single major country stands with us. Yet, the Prime Minister continues to circle the globe, visiting obscure countries while ignoring pressing domestic concerns,” he said.
He called on the Centre to focus on resolving internal issues, particularly the Punjab-Haryana water dispute, instead of engaging in what he termed “globe-trotting diplomacy.”
Backdrop of Political Tension
Mann’s aggressive posturing comes amid growing friction between the Aam Aadmi Party and the BJP, especially in light of the upcoming elections and a string of confrontations over law and order, governance, and federal-state relations. His remarks also reflect increasing unease in Punjab over the activities of organized crime and its alleged political shielding.
As the war of words between state and central leaders intensifies, political observers believe Mann is strategically positioning himself as a defiant regional voice against what he portrays as an autocratic and corporate-aligned central regime.
