Chandigarh, April 4 The Punjab BJP staged a protest in Amritsar on Saturday against the AAP government over the recent suicide of an official of a warehousing corporation, demanding justice for his family.
The entire state leadership, including Punjab BJP president Sunil Jakhar, national general secretary Tarun Chugh, Union minister Ravneet Singh Bittu, and Punjab BJP working president Ashwani Sharma, participated in the 'dharna' at Hall Gate in Amritsar.
Gagandeep Singh Randhawa, the district manager of Punjab State Warehousing Corporation in Amritsar, allegedly ended his life by consuming poison on March 21.
A video later surfaced in which he allegedly claimed harassment by Transport Minister Laljit Singh Bhullar, who resigned from the Cabinet later that day at the direction of Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann amid the controversy.
Bhullar, the AAP MLA from Patti, was arrested two days after Randhawa ended his life.
The Amritsar police has booked Bhullar, his father Sukhdev Singh Bhullar, and personal assistant Dilbag Singh under Sections 108 (abetment of suicide), 351 (3) (criminal intimidation) and 3 (5) (common intention) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS).
During the protest on Saturday, the Punjab BJP leaders shouted slogans against the AAP government and Chief Minister Mann, demanding a CBI probe into the death.
"This is not a political fight, it is a fight for justice for the Randhawa family," Jakhar said, addressing the gathering at the protest site.
"We stand by the Randhawa family," he added.
Punjab BJP working president Sharma said his party decided to stage the protest to ensure justice for the Randhawas.
"The family does not trust the Punjab government and the Punjab Police investigation. This is why they have been seeking a CBI probe into the death," said Sharma.
Attacking the Mann government, Sharma said the state police had not taken any steps in the last four years to inspire public confidence in the justice system.
"Why are you (Mann) trying to save Bhullar?" Sharma asked.
He warned that the BJP would continue its agitation against the AAP government unless a CBI probe is ordered into Randhawa's death and justice is delivered to the family.
The BJP leaders also alleged that Bhullar was being given "VIP facilities" in jail and criticised the AAP government for not arresting his father and assistant so far.
Earlier, BJP leader Chugh lashed out at the AAP government over the law and order situation, calling it an "ineffective" dispensation.