PHAGWARA: Activists of the SAD Amritsar and Akali Dal WPD staged a protest at Sugar Mill Chowk in Phagwara on Sunday by burning a broom (jhaaru), the election symbol of the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP), to express their resentment over the killing of Parminder Singh Jhota, described by the protesters as an anti-drug activist. The demonstration was organised in response to a call by the Action Committee and was led by Dr. Harjinder Singh Jakhu, Doaba In-charge of SAD/A, and Ranjit Singh Fateh, President of the Phagwara Block of AD/WPD.
While addressing the gathering, Dr. Harjinder Singh Jakhu accused the AAP-led Punjab government of failing to curb the drug menace in the state. He claimed that drug-related problems had increased manifold since the party came to power and held the state government politically responsible for the circumstances surrounding the killing of Parminder Singh Jhota. These allegations were part of the protesters’ criticism of the government and were not independently established in the information provided.
Jakhu further alleged that drug supplies had reached households across Punjab under the present government’s tenure and accused the AAP government of failing to fulfil its commitment to eliminate drugs from the state. The protesters raised slogans against the AAP government and expressed their anger over what they described as its failure to effectively tackle drug trafficking and protect those opposing the drug menace.
The demonstration concluded peacefully at around 12.30 pm, with the activists dispersing without any reported untoward incident. Law and order remained peaceful throughout the protest, according to the information provided.