Punjab Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) President Kewal Singh Dhillon on Sunday, 18 October, announced he would wear a black turban until justice is delivered in the murder case of anti-drug activist Parvinder Singh Jhota. The symbolic gesture, directed squarely at the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) government in Punjab, was accompanied by a public appeal to all Punjabis to join the protest by wearing black turbans, black dupattas, and carrying black flags.

Protest in Mansa and the Appeal to Punjabis

A day earlier, on Saturday, Dhillon joined an ongoing demonstration in Mansa town, where residents and the victim's family have been demanding justice for Jhota. During the gathering, he called on the people of Punjab to sustain the protest through symbolic black attire until justice is served. Bhim Singh, Jhota's father, along with other participants, accepted Dhillon's appeal.

Dhillon framed his participation as more than political opposition. 'I have joined the protest as a member of the bereaved family's extended family,' he said, signalling a deliberate shift from party-line rhetoric to personal solidarity with the grieving household.

What Dhillon Said About the Murder

The BJP Punjab chief did not mince words in characterising the killing. 'What has happened to a young man who raised his voice against drugs has deeply shaken the people of Punjab. A young man who was fighting to save Punjab's youth from drugs was brutally murdered. This is not merely the murder of Parvinder Singh; it is also a murder of law and order in Punjab,' Dhillon said.

He described the black turban as 'not merely a piece of clothing but a symbol of protest against the AAP government's failure,' and pledged that peaceful protests would continue until the family received full justice. 'The BJP stands firmly with the family and will raise its voice for justice at every level,' he added.

A Pattern of Anti-Drug Activist Deaths, BJP Alleges

Dhillon pointed to what he described as a troubling pattern of violence against individuals who spoke out against the drug menace in Punjab. He cited the case of Gulzar Singh of Toor Banjara, who was reportedly driven to suicide after raising his voice against drugs, followed by Jhota's murder. Subsequently, Bikramjit Singh from Mari Pannwan village in Gurdaspur was also murdered, Dhillon alleged.

'Instead of curbing drugs, the AAP government is trying to silence those who raised their voices against the menace,' Dhillon charged. He argued that the string of deaths represents a systemic failure of the state administration to protect whistle-blowers and activists.

BJP Demands Bhagwant Mann's Resignation

Dhillon issued a direct political demand, calling on Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann to take moral responsibility for the government's alleged failure and resign immediately. He warned that the people of Punjab would 'no longer tolerate the AAP government,' signalling that the BJP intends to press the issue ahead of future electoral cycles.

The AAP government in Punjab has not publicly responded to Dhillon's remarks or the protest at Mansa as of the time of reporting. The murder case of Parvinder Singh Jhota remains under investigation, and how quickly authorities deliver accountability will determine the duration and scale of the BJP's protest campaign.