AmritsarOne hour ago
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The Punjab and Haryana High Court has sought a reply from the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP)-led Punjab government on the issue of reducing the security of VIPs after the murder of Punjabi singer Sidhu Musewala. Former Deputy CM of Punjab and former Congress MLA from Amritsar Central Om Prakash Soni has approached the High Court on this issue. Hearing this petition, the court has issued a notice to the Bhagwant Mann government and asked it to present the record and report on June 2.
OP Soni was also among the 424 VIPs of the state whose security was reduced by the Bhagwant Mann government of Punjab recently. The government removed 25 security personnel posted in Soni’s security. Soni has filed a petition against this in the Punjab and Haryana High Court.
Sidhu Musewala was murdered only after Soni’s petition was filed. In such a situation, while hearing Soni’s petition, the High Court reprimanded the Punjab government and asked that on what basis Om Prakash Soni’s security was cut? On what basis was the list of security deductors made public despite having a confidential document? Has anyone sought information under RTI?
Issuing a notice to the Punjab government, the High Court has sought answers to these questions by June 2. The government has been instructed to submit a sealed report.
Former MLA Vir Singh Lopoke.
Akali leaders also reached court
Akali leader and former minister Veer Singh Lopoke also reached the court against the decision of Bhagwant Mann government to reduce and withdraw the security. Lopoke wrote in his petition that his security was withdrawn by the Bhagwant government. This has put his life in danger. Hearing the petition of Lopoke, the court directed the government to provide immediate security to Lopoke.
Security big issue after Moosewala’s murder
Bhagwant Mann’s government had also reduced the security of Punjabi singer Sidhu Moosewala, who contested on Congress party ticket from Mansa seat in the assembly elections. The government took back 2 of his 4 gunmen. Musewala was killed the very next day after the security was reduced. In such a situation, the Bhagwant Mann government is being criticized all round. There is a lot of anger among the people of Punjab about him. Leaders of opposition parties are also taking a dig at the government for making the reports of such people public after withdrawing the security.