India: Opposition demands Punjab CM’s resignation over gangster Lawrence Bishnoi’s interview row

The government of the northern Indian state of Punjab came under fire after investigators revealed that a televised interview of a major gangster was conducted at a police station. Gangster Lawrence Bishnoi’s interview was recorded at CIA police station Kharar in the state. Reacting to the development, the Punjab and Haryana High Court said, "The black sheep in state police must be identified and brought to book at the earliest."

A Special Investigation Team (SIT) revealed in court on Wednesday (Aug 7) that the interviewee was in police custody at the time of the recording.

Earlier in December last year, the court had described Lawrence Bishnoi’s in-custody interview as “glorifying crime and criminals” and a matter of grave concern.

Bishnoi is charged with the murder of Punjabi singer Sidhu Moosewala. His name is reportedly mentioned in over 71 cases in total, including a conviction in at least four cases.

Opposition demands CM’s resignation

The state’s Leader of the Opposition, Partap Singh Bajwa of the Congress party, said on Wednesday that Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann and the minister who holds the Home and Jail portfolios should immediately resign.

“The Aam Aadmi Party-led Punjab government has been lying since March 2023. Now, after this revelation in the High Court, Bhagwant Mann owes an explanation to the people of Punjab, particularly the parents of slain Punjabi singer Shubhdeep Singh Sidhu,” Bajwa said.

Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) leader Bikram Singh Majithia also called on the CM to tender his resignation.

“The AAP government had vehemently denied that Bishnoi’s television interview was held at a jail in Punjab, but a report submitted by a SIT formed by the High Court to probe the matter has revealed that the interview took place at the Kharar police station...This could only happen under the patronage of the government, and the Chief Minister should explain why his government was providing protection to Bishnoi,” Majithia said.

(With inputs from agencies)