Punjab Pradesh Congress Committee President Pargat Singh on Thursday, 22 October sharply criticised the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) government in Punjab for concluding the state Assembly session in just nine minutes, calling it a deliberate attempt to evade accountability on pressing public issues.

Evasion on Key Issues

Singh alleged that instead of addressing critical questions — including those surrounding the murder of anti-drug activist Parminder Singh Jhota — the state government chose to flee accountability on the Assembly floor. He held Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann personally responsible for the deteriorating administrative situation and demanded his resignation.

'There is no visible governance in the state,' Singh said. He pointed to the plight of government employees, computer teachers, Elementary Teacher Training (ETT) teachers, and Pepsu Road Transport Corporation (PRTC) employees, all of whom he said were struggling for their rights while the state government looked for ways to avoid their grievances.

AAP's 'Tall Promises' Under Fire

Singh alleged that the AAP had made sweeping promises about transforming Punjab's governance, but the state was now witnessing what he described as 'administrative mismanagement and a clear lack of accountability.' He also took a pointed dig at AAP's leadership, alleging that those who had been 'running Punjab from Delhi' had politically distanced themselves from the unfolding crisis, but could not escape responsibility for the damage caused to the state.

Notably, this criticism comes amid heightened political tensions in Punjab, where multiple employee groups have been staging protests over stalled demands — adding weight to Congress's contention that the government is sidestepping rather than resolving systemic issues.

Congress Vows Accountability If Voted to Power

Singh warned that once the Congress formed the government, accountability would be fixed for everyone found responsible for harming Punjab's interests. He stated that between 125 and 150 individuals could be made to answer for their actions, adding that 'no one would be spared.'

On Amit Shah's Visit and the Jhota Case

Reacting to Union Home Minister Amit Shah's visit to Punjab, Pargat Singh said he welcomed the minister in his official capacity, but stressed that visits and political rhetoric alone would not resolve the state's deep-rooted problems. He demanded that the Central government explain what concrete steps it had taken to curb the drug trade in Punjab.

On the Jhota murder case, Singh said that if a demand for a Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) probe had been raised, the Centre should consider it seriously and take appropriate action. He also questioned the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)'s policies, insisting that the Centre's role and accountability must be clearly established on all matters concerning Punjab's interests.

What Comes Next

With Punjab's next Assembly elections on the horizon, Congress's escalating offensive — targeting both AAP's governance record and BJP's handling of Punjab's drug crisis — signals the early contours of a multi-front political battle for the state. How the AAP government responds to the demands for a CBI probe into the Jhota case and the grievances of state employees is likely to shape the narrative in the coming weeks.