BJP slams Punjab CM Bhagwant Mann over daylight murders, law and order collapse
Synopsis
BJP National Spokesperson Gaurav Bhatia has called out Punjab CM Bhagwant Mann by name over three murders in under 36 hours — including a broad-daylight double shooting in Moga by assailants in a licence-plate-free Scorpio. With the CM yet to respond, the BJP is framing AAP's rule as 'Arajak Apradh Party' governance, intensifying a political battle over Punjab's law and order ahead of the next electoral cycle.
Key Takeaways
BJP National Spokesperson Gaurav Bhatia attacked Punjab CM Bhagwant Mann on 26 October over three murders in the last 24–36 hours .
One incident in Moga district saw armed assailants in a licence-plate-free black Scorpio kill two people and injure several others in broad daylight.
Bhatia demanded disclosure of FIR sections registered for each crime and called for government accountability.
The BJP alleged that crime, drug abuse, and suicide incidents are all rising under the AAP government in Punjab.
Neither CM Mann nor any senior AAP leader had publicly responded to the allegations as of Monday evening.
Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) National Spokesperson Gaurav Bhatia on Monday, 26 October launched a sharp attack on the Bhagwant Mann-led government in Punjab, citing three separate murder incidents within the last 24 to 36 hours as evidence of a rapidly deteriorating law and order situation in the state. Bhatia alleged that people are being killed in broad daylight while the Chief Minister remains silent.
Three Murders in 36 Hours: What Bhatia Alleged
Among the incidents highlighted by Bhatia was a shooting in Moga district, where armed assailants arrived in a black Scorpio — reportedly without a licence plate — and opened fire on two young men in broad daylight, killing both and injuring several others. Bhatia alleged that illegal weapons were openly used and that the Chief Minister made no public statement in response.
Bhatia also demanded that the government disclose under which sections of law FIRs have been registered for these crimes, questioning what he described as a pattern of official silence following violent incidents.
BJP's Allegations Against the AAP Government
The BJP spokesperson alleged that crime, drug abuse, and suicide incidents are all on the rise in Punjab, and that the state government is protecting criminals rather than the public. 'Bhagwant Maan has pushed Punjab towards Gundaraj and Jungleraj. If it is said that sinful AAP has now become Arajak Apradh Party, it will not be wrong,' Bhatia said.
He added: 'Bhagwant Mann's government protects criminals and murderers, while the only ones who suffer and are oppressed are the people of Punjab.' Bhatia further alleged that the Chief Minister finds time for foreign trips and purchasing expensive goods abroad, but not for addressing the security situation faced by ordinary residents.
Accountability and Political Context
The BJP's broadside comes amid an ongoing political battle between the saffron party and the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP), which swept to power in Punjab in the 2022 assembly elections with a landslide majority. The BJP, largely marginalised in the state, has consistently targeted the Mann government on governance issues, including crime, drug trafficking, and unemployment.
This is not the first time the BJP has cited specific violent incidents to corner the AAP government. Critics argue that while crime and drug issues predate the current administration, the frequency of high-profile incidents in recent months has provided the opposition with fresh ammunition. The AAP government has not yet issued a formal response to Bhatia's latest allegations.
What the Government Has Not Said
As of Monday evening, neither Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann nor any senior AAP leader had publicly addressed the three incidents cited by Bhatia, or responded to the BJP's demand for details of FIRs registered in connection with the crimes. The silence, critics argue, reinforces the opposition's narrative of administrative indifference.
With assembly elections still years away, the law and order question is shaping up as a sustained political flashpoint — one that the BJP appears intent on pressing at the national level through spokespersons like Bhatia.
Point of View
Recent, and verifiable incidents rather than abstract statistics. But the BJP's credibility on Punjab law and order is complicated by the fact that crime and drug trafficking were endemic under its own prior state governments. What is genuinely notable is the CM's reported silence on a double murder in Moga: in an era of social-media governance, the absence of even a routine statement is a political own-goal. The more substantive question — whether crime data under AAP is statistically worse than under previous administrations — remains unanswered in this exchange, and that gap is exactly where accountability journalism needs to step in.
NationPress
26 Oct 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Why is the BJP attacking Punjab CM Bhagwant Mann over law and order?
The BJP cited three murders within 24 to 36 hours in Punjab, including a broad-daylight double shooting in Moga district, to allege that the AAP government has failed to maintain public safety. BJP spokesperson Gaurav Bhatia demanded FIR details and accused the Chief Minister of remaining silent while people are being killed.
What happened in the Moga district shooting?
According to Bhatia's statement, armed assailants arrived in a black Scorpio without a licence plate in Moga district and opened fire on two young men, killing both and injuring several others. The weapons used were allegedly illegal, and the incident reportedly occurred in broad daylight.
What has the Bhagwant Mann government said in response?
As of Monday evening, neither CM Bhagwant Mann nor any senior AAP leader had publicly responded to the BJP's allegations or addressed the specific incidents cited by Bhatia. The government has not issued a formal statement on the FIRs registered in connection with the crimes.
What is the BJP demanding from the Punjab government?
The BJP has demanded that the government disclose under which legal sections FIRs have been registered for the cited murder cases. It has also called for the Chief Minister to publicly address the deteriorating law and order situation and be accountable for the safety of Punjab's residents.
How does this fit into the broader BJP–AAP political battle over Punjab?
The BJP was largely swept out of Punjab in the 2022 assembly elections when AAP won a landslide majority. Since then, the BJP has consistently targeted the Mann government on crime, drugs, and governance. This latest attack is part of a sustained opposition strategy to frame AAP's Punjab tenure as a law and order failure ahead of the next electoral cycle.
