CHANDIGARH, May 1 — The Aam Aadmi Party asserted on Thursday that the Shiromani Akali Dal is compromising the safety of Punjab by providing political platforms to individuals linked to organized crime. Baltej Pannu, the AAP Punjab State Media In-charge, stated that the opposition party’s public concern regarding the state’s law and order situation is inconsistent with its internal appointments.
The allegations surfaced following the Akali Dal’s decision to appoint the spouse of a known gangster as a “halka in-charge.” Pannu noted that this move represents a broader trend within the organization rather than an isolated incident. He maintained that the party has made repeated efforts across various constituencies to integrate associates of gangsters into the political mainstream.
“The party which is today shedding crocodile tears over the state’s law and order situation has, in reality, been at the forefront of providing political patronage to criminals and gangsters,” Baltej Pannu affirmed. He questioned whether the Akali Dal faced such a shortage of honest workers that it felt compelled to rely on the families of criminals to manage its operations.
Pannu further cited a recent legal matter involving the parents of Goldy Brar, who faced extortion charges. After the Punjab and Haryana High Court dismissed their petition, it was observed that a lawyer with direct ties to the Akali Dal represented the family.
“On one hand the Akali Dal pretends to corner the government over law and order, while on the other hand the same people stand as a shield for those who break the law and engage in extortion,” Pannu declared. He maintained that defending such cases while holding political office reveals a contradictory stance that the public has begun to recognize.
