In U-turn after Moosewala murder, Punjab govt restores VVIP security

Less than a week after Congress leader and popular singer Sidhu Moosewala was shot dead, the Punjab government on Thursday (June 2) decided to restore security personnel for more than 400 VVIPs w.e.f. June 7.

The newly-formed AAP government in the northern state, under chief minister Bhagwant Mann, had recently withdrawn security cover given to 424 VVIPs. Moosewala’s murder came as a rude shock to the AAP government’s plans to curtail state expenses.

On Thursday, the Aam Aadmi Party conveyed its renewed decision to the Punjab and Haryana High Court, in response to a petition by former minister OP Soni, who is among the 424 whose security cover was removed.

Also read: Moosewala murder: Gangs, not guns, at root of Punjab’s violence

While curtailing VIP culture was at the heart of AAP’s decision to cut down security, the party shied from accepting it in the court, alleged the BJP. AAP counsel told the High Court that the security cover was removed because the Punjab government needed security personnel for Operation Bluestar’s anniversary on June 6.

“Kejriwal-Mann duo bite the dust, again. They refuted back in high court on their claim of reducing VIP culture in Punjab by saying that it was a temporary withdrawal. AAP Punjab’s cheap stunt cost a Punjabi’s a precious life. Punjab’s youth would never forgive them for their hypocrisy,” BJP leader Manjinder Singh Sirsa tweeted.

Under criticism, CM Bhagwant Mann has announced a judicial probe, headed by a high court judge, into Moosewala’s murder.

The Punjab police on Wednesday (June 1) said it will question jailed gangster Lawrence Bishnoi after bringing him to the state in connection with the murder of Punjabi singer Sidhu Moosewala. The Punjab police have said that gang war is the reason behind Moosewala’s cold-blooded murder. Police say the Bishnoi gang was behind the killing.

At present, Bishnoi is in custody of the Delhi Police’s Special Cell in a case under the Arms Act and other sections related to assault on a public servant.