LUDHIANA: Amarinder Singh Raja Warring, President of the Punjab Pradesh Congress Committee and MP Ludhiana, issued a statement following the confirmation by a Special Investigation Team (SIT) of the Punjab Police that gangster Lawrence Bishnoi's infamous interview in 2023 was conducted within Punjab.
Warring stated, "The SIT of the Punjab Police has informed the Punjab and Haryana High Court that the viral interview of gangster Lawrence Bishnoi in 2023 was indeed conducted within Punjab, as we have been asserting since the interview aired. However, both the Punjab Police and the AAP government in Punjab repeatedly denied this, insisting the interview had not taken place within the state."
He continued, "Not only was the interview conducted in Punjab, but it was also held within the confines of a Punjab jail. This exposes the influence that a criminal like Lawrence Bishnoi has over the administration and the government, enabling him to orchestrate such activities. It is profoundly shameful to witness such power in the hands of criminals."
Raja Warring further commented, "It is disheartening that a respected officer like DGP Gaurav Yadav was swayed by the government to claim the interview did not occur in Punjab. I have raised this issue multiple times and will continue to do so. How could such an interview take place within a Punjab jail? I now demand an explanation from the Chief Minister, who previously dismissed our allegations and confidently asserted that such an interview from within a Punjab Police jail was impossible."
He also questioned, "How can justice be served for Sidhu Moosewala and his family when the Punjab government appears to be in collusion with a criminal like Lawrence Bishnoi? Bishnoi seems to enjoy immunity, receiving preferential treatment even within prison walls. This raises serious concerns about the administration's integrity."
The PPCC Chief pressed on, "DGP Gaurav Yadav had claimed that high-tech solutions, including signal jammers, were installed in Bathinda jail. Bishnoi was housed in the high-security zone, guarded by CRPF and Punjab Police jail security with 24/7 CCTV surveillance and paramilitary officers present. With such extensive security measures, both state and central, who is accountable for this security lapse?"
He concluded, "Due to the statements by CM Bhagwant Mann regarding our police force being glove in hand with drug peddlers, our police force is already demotivated. These revelations regarding Lawrence Bishnoi’s interview, after months of discussion, further demoralize the police force, with the entire force being scrutinized due to the actions of a few individuals. Strict measures are essential to prevent such incidents in the future and restore confidence in our law enforcement."
This issue underscores the urgent need for accountability and stringent security protocols to ensure that such breaches do not occur again. There need to be serious calls for transparency and justice is a step towards addressing the systemic issues within the administration and ensuring the safety and integrity of the state.