Law and order collapsed in state after AAP formed government, says Anurag Thakur

Union Minister Anurag Thakur on Saturday blamed the AAP dispensation in Punjab, saying that law and order had "broken down" in the state after the formation of a "one government" and suggested that he "wake up" and take some action.

His remarks come against the backdrop of the Ajnal incident last month, in which self-styled Sikh preacher and Khalistani sympathizer Amritpal Singh and his supporters, carrying swords and guns, clashed with police over the release of one of his aides.

In Delhi, they say the police should be handed over to them, "what they did to the police (in Punjab)", the BJP leader and Information and Broadcasting Minister said, without naming the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) or its government in the state and the national capital . The law and order situation has "broken down" in the state over the last one year, Thakur, who was here to launch 'Yuva Utsava-India@2047', told reporters. “What happened to the situation in Punjab in the last one year? What do the incidents that happened here indicate,” asked Thakur. “Punjab Police used to be discussed across the country and today that discussion has turned into what it has turned into now. Who is to blame?” he asked.

The Union Minister wondered whether the state's law and order situation would "collapse too soon with the formation of one government". To another question, Thakur said law and order was the responsibility of the state government. "I hope this sleeping government wakes up and its honeymoon (period) is over. It should wake up now and take some action," he said.

Bhagwant Mann government in Punjab faces flak from opposition parties, including BJP Bhagwant Mann government in Punjab faces flak from opposition parties, including BJP, over the Ajnal incident and the clash between gangsters in the Tarn Taran jail that resulted in the death of two criminals held in connection with the case of the murder of singer Sidhu Moosewal.

However, Mann, who is in charge of home affairs, has previously said that his government will maintain law and order and no one will be allowed to disturb its hard-earned peace. The BJP also targeted the AAP government and demanded Governor's rule in the state.