Chandigarh, February 11 The opposition in Punjab strongly criticized the AAP government over the shooting of migrant laborers in Moga, urging the Bhagwant Mann dispensation to "wake up" from its complacency.
A day after the incident, Moga Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) Ajay Gandhi said that the three men on motorcycles have been identified, and efforts are underway to arrest them.
Two migrant laborers were injured after the three men allegedly opened fire at a group of workers in Moga district on Tuesday. The incident occurred on the Zira road when the group was on their way for lunch after working at a factory.
Following the incident, an unverified post appeared on Instagram in which a user named Nirvair Singh claimed responsibility for the firing. The post also included a video of the alleged incident.
When asked about the post, SSP Gandhi said that the case is being investigated from all angles.
Condemning the shooting, Punjab BJP chief Sunil Jakhar said that the migrant laborers were targeted as part of a conspiracy.
In a post on X, Jakhar said, "Earlier in Punjab, business owners were being targeted, which is why no new industry was willing to come here. Now, in Moga, an incident has occurred where migrant workers were targeted as part of a conspiracy. This is not what Punjab stands for."
He said that these migrant workers make a significant contribution to Punjab's industry and agriculture.
"This is a highly condemnable act. The Bhagwant Mann government should wake up from its complacency and show the courage to take action against the forces that are creating divisions in society and disrupting law and order," the BJP chief added.
The unverified post, which appeared after the incident, claimed that the firing on people from Uttar Pradesh and Bihar was carried out by Ladi Bhalwan and Nirvair Singh.
The post said that the firing was carried out as a "protest" against these migrant workers who "spoiled" the atmosphere in Punjab. It also warned of more violence if the migrant workers were not driven out of villages and towns.
The post also sought to justify the attack by referring to past crimes involving migrant workers. It warned sarpanches and panchayat members who get Aadhaar cards made for the migrant workers, and allow them to stay for the sake of votes.
Punjab Congress chief Amrinder Singh Raja Warring dubbed the shooting incident on migrant workers as "alarming and disturbing".
"We must nip this evil in the bud. The attack on migrant laborers must be investigated, and the guilty must be given exemplary punishment. We must defeat such forces while remaining united. I hope that the @AAPPunjab Government and also the Government of India take serious note of it," he said in a post on X.
Warring added, "We must rise above partisan politics to combat this serious threat to OUR PUNJAB."
Shiromani Akali Dal chief Sukhbir Singh Badal said that after "complete lawlessness and gangster Raj," a new conspiracy seems to be afoot to destabilize Punjab.
Badal said in a post on X, "This firing on migrant laborers in Moga is enough to understand the sinister move. The @AamAadmiParty govt under @ArvindKejriwal's remote control, Chief Minister @BhagwantMann, and their notorious Saam, Daam, Dand, Bhed' strategy are directly responsible for this state of affairs.”
He said that urgent steps are needed to tackle this situation before AAP's ruthless tactics turn Punjab into a permanent battleground of division, coercion, and chaos.
