The Punjab government on Thursday, 2 June, said that it would restore the security of 423 VIPs on 7 June. This comes after the Punjab and Haryana High Court on Thursday instructed the government to restore the security of all 423 individuals whose protection was previously scaled down.
The development comes days after singing sensation Sidhu Moose Wala was gunned down by unidentified men on 29 May, a day after his security cover was curtailed. The autopsy suggested that the body had 25 bullet injuries, which wounded his left lung and liver fatally.
The Punjab government on Thursday informed the court that the security cover of the VIPs was rescinded as it needed the personnel for Operation Bluestar's anniversary on 6 June. In June 1984, a military offensive had been ordered by then prime minister Indira Gandhi to eliminate terrorists who had taken shelter at the Golden Temple.
This came in contradiction to an earlier statement by the Aam Aadmi Party, wherein it had claimed that the security cover of Moose Wala and 423 others had been scaled down as part of the Bhagwant Mann-led government's crackdown on VIP culture.
Tweeting about the differing claims, BJP leader Manjinder Singh Sirsa said, "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 Punjabis a precious life. Punjab’s youth would never forgive them for their hypocrisy."
The Hearing
The AAP-led Punjab government's statement came during the hearing of a plea filed by former deputy chief minister OP Soni, whose security had also been retracted on the orders of the Punjab government.
His counsel, Advocate Madhu Dayal, while speaking to ANI, said, "Punjab government presented their report on a number of people whose security was taken and reason for which their security was curtailed in a sealed envelope. They didn't have the central government's reports on this and have asked for more time."
She further said, "Punjab government said security has been taken temporarily for the Amritsar ghalughara event and will be reinstated by 7 June."
Meanwhile, Sidhu Moose Wala's family has written to Union Home Minister Amit Shah, urging him to order a central agency probe into his murder, Jal Shakti Minister Gajendra Singh Shekhawat said on Thursday, 2 June, as per a report.
Shekhawat met with the father of Moose Wala on Thursday, as per Hindustan Times.
Moose Wala Murder Case
On 29 May, Sidhu Moose Wala was shot dead by unidentified assailants in Punjab's Mansa district, a day after the state government curtailed his security cover. His cousin and a friend who were travelling in a jeep with him were also injured in the attack.
Canada-based gangster Goldy Brar allegedly claimed responsibility for the murder on the same day, and said it was planned by him and the Lawrence Bishnoi group.
Bishnoi has been lodged in Tihar Jail in connection with a case under the stringent Maharashtra Control of Organised Crimes Act (MCOCA) since 2016. On Tuesday, the Delhi Police took custody of Bishnoi in connection to a different case, under the Arms Act, a day after he was questioned by the police inside Tihar jail over Moose Wala's death.
The singer was cremated on 31 May amid chants of 'Satnam Waheguru' in Punjab's Moosa village, with thousands of his fans and supporters flocking to the venue.
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