Khaira slams govt for gagging Oppn’s voice

Senior Congress leader and Bholath MLA Sukhpal Khaira has come down heavily on the AAP government, strongly condemning the utterly false and frivolous FIR registered against Leader of the Opposition Partap Singh Bajwa for merely highlighting the deteriorating law and order situation in the state.

Khaira stated, “This is not just an attack on an individual, it is a direct assault on our fundamental right to freedom of speech. In a democracy, the Opposition has every right and indeed, the duty to hold the government accountable. But in Punjab under Bhagwant Mann, anyone who dares speak the truth is branded as a criminal.”

He said AAP’s vindictive politics and authoritarian mindset have transformed Punjab into a police state, where democratic voices are silenced through intimidation and misuse of state machinery. “By resorting to such blatant political vendetta, Mann has confirmed our allegations. Instead of answering tough questions about governance, his government is unleashing the police on critics,” he added.

Khaira further warned that the Opposition will not be cowed down by such oppressive tactics. “If speaking the truth is a crime in today’s Punjab, then every conscientious citizen should be ready to face an FIR. We will continue to raise our voice for the people, come what may.”

He called upon civil society, the media and democratic institutions to take serious note of the AAP government’s attempts to muzzle dissent and erode the very foundation of democracy in the state.

Jalandhar