Punjab Police Disputes Claims of Security Withdrawal for Akali Leader

Chandigarh, April 2 (NationPress) The Punjab Police on Wednesday denied allegations regarding the total withdrawal of security for Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) leader Bikram Singh Majithia, stating that his security detail had merely been reduced following a reassessment of threat levels.

However, former Deputy Chief Minister and senior SAD figure Sukhbir Badal criticized this decision, accusing the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) and Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann of engaging in a perilous game by diminishing his security.

Badal asserted that the SAD would vigorously combat any attempts to undermine its leadership.

An official spokesperson explained that the security reduction was based on the latest advice from the Security Review Committee. “The security for any significant individual is assessed periodically according to threat evaluations. Consequently, it may be either increased or decreased,” the spokesperson added, noting that Majithia still maintains adequate security, including an escort vehicle and a sufficient number of armed personnel to ensure his safety as per established protocols.

Officials emphasized that such actions are standard and rely solely on threat perception assessments. State Cabinet minister Harpal Cheema expressed astonishment that the decrease in one person's security has unsettled the Akali Dal, the BJP, and the Congress.

Cheema pointed out that during the tenure of the Akali Dal-BJP administration, the drug mafia expanded its reach, leading to rampant drug availability in Punjab.

“During that period, numerous Akali leaders were granted extensive security, even Prime Minister-level protection, shockingly including those implicated in drug trafficking,” he stated.

In response, Badal, who visited Majithia’s home alongside senior leaders, claimed that Chief Minister Mann is “intoxicated with power.”

“He makes rash decisions at night and coerces police officials to carry them out. This represents a blatant abuse of power. The entire security detail of a Z-plus protectee was revoked last Saturday during late hours. All security personnel assigned to Majithia were instructed to report back to their respective units immediately or be presumed to have abandoned their duties. This was executed without even informing Majithia’s security chief,” he said.

Badal insisted that such irrational directives have led to the assassination of esteemed singer Sidhu Moosewala, claiming that the government is targeting Bikram Majithia due to his outspoken criticism of the Chief Minister and his efforts to expose Bhagwant Mann.

Badal further alleged that the AAP government previously set the stage for a violent attack on him, stating, “The Amritsar Police enabled a radical to assault me while I was performing ‘sewa’ at the entrance of Sri Darbar Sahib. Instead of documenting my account, the police filed an FIR to suit their convenience, allowing the assailant to obtain bail within three months.”

He assured Majithia that the party stands with him, noting that the people of Punjab will defend Majithia as one of their own and reject outsiders like Arvind Kejriwal, Manish Sisodia, and Bibhav Kumar, who are residing in luxurious accommodations with substantial security in Punjab after being expelled from Delhi.

“Both Kejriwal and Sisodia are implicated in the multi-crore liquor scandal, while Bibhav faces allegations of assaulting a party MP, yet this has not deterred the AAP government from entrusting the entire state apparatus to them,” he concluded.