Face2News/Chandigarh
Senior Congress leader and former Health Minister of Punjab, Shri Balbir Singh Sidhu, has come out strongly against the FIR filed by the Aam Aadmi Party-led Punjab government against the Leader of Opposition, Shri Partap Singh Bajwa. He termed the move as a “disgraceful and desperate attempt to silence voices of truth.”
In a scathing statement issued today, Sidhu said, “The act of slapping an FIR on Shri Partap Singh Bajwa ji for raising legitimate concerns about the deteriorating law and order in Punjab is not only condemnable but also reeks of political vendetta. It is clear that the Mann government, rattled by growing public criticism and the failure to maintain peace and security, is now misusing power to target the opposition.”
Sidhu emphasized that raising issues of public safety and governance is the constitutional duty of the Leader of Opposition. “Instead of taking constructive criticism in the right spirit and acting on it, the Bhagwant Mann government is reacting like an insecure regime that cannot tolerate dissent. The FIR is an attack on democratic values, and such authoritarian conduct has no place in a democratic setup.”
Sidhu emphasized that raising issues of public safety and governance is the constitutional duty of the Leader of Opposition. “Instead of taking constructive criticism in the right spirit and acting on it, the Bhagwant Mann government is reacting like an insecure regime that cannot tolerate dissent. The FIR is an attack on democratic values, and such authoritarian conduct has no place in a democratic setup.”
He added that the law and order situation in Punjab has been steadily declining under AAP’s rule, with increasing cases of gang wars, drug trafficking, and attacks on public servants and judiciary members. “Shri Bajwa ji only spoke what the people of Punjab are witnessing every day. If raising the truth is now a crime, then it shows how far this government has strayed from democratic principles,” he remarked.
Sidhu also took aim at Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann, accusing him of being more focused on publicity and drama than governance. “The CM is busy with Twitter politics while Punjab suffers. His government is running on headlines instead of real work. Filing false FIRs won’t hide his incompetence,” he added.
Reaffirming Congress’ commitment to Punjab and its people, Sidhu said, “Let it be clear to the Mann government—no matter how many FIRs you file, no matter how many threats you issue, the Indian National Congress will not back down. We will continue to expose your failures and raise the voice of the people, louder than ever.”
He concluded by stating that this cowardly action will only strengthen the Congress party’s resolve to fight for justice, democracy, and the welfare of Punjab.