Congress MLAs protest against Punjab Chief Minister after anti-drug crusader's murder

Protests Outside Assembly

Congress MLAs led by opposition leader Partap Singh Bajwa burned the effigy of Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann outside the Assembly complex on Thursday, demanding his resignation following the murder of anti-drug campaigner Parvinder Singh Jhota. Mr. Bajwa stated that the Chief Minister, who also manages the Home portfolio, has completely failed to keep law and order in the State. He told journalists that no person's life, business, work, or family is safe in Punjab anymore.

Assembly Tributes And BJP Reaction

Inside the Punjab Assembly on October 23, 2026, members paid tributes to Parvinder Singh Jhota during obituary references after he was shot at in Mansa. Separately, Punjab Bharatiya Janata Party president Kewal Singh Dhillon accused the State government of running away from accountability, pointing out that the Assembly session lasted only a few minutes without discussing key issues. Mr. Dhillon demanded answers regarding the deaths of Parminder Singh Jhota, Bikramjit Singh, Gulzar Singh, and others who died while speaking out against drugs, while also noting that Home Minister Amit Shah previously vowed to eliminate drugs and predicted an NDA government in the State by 2027.

Context

Law and order and the drug menace remain central political issues in Punjab, where opposition parties frequently target the ruling administration over safety concerns. Political protests and demands for accountability often peak following high-profile violent incidents involving public campaigners and activists.