Chandigarh, July 11 —Punjab Finance Minister Harpal Singh Cheema on Thursday launched a scathing attack on the BJP, accusing the party of shielding jailed gangster Lawrence Bishnoi and using him to foment unrest in Opposition-ruled states.
Addressing the media ahead of the Punjab Assembly’s special session, Cheema linked the recent murder of Abohar-based businessman Sanjay Verma to Bishnoi, who he claimed is enjoying political protection while lodged in a Gujarat prison.
“The recent murder of an Abohar businessman was carried out on the orders of gangster Lawrence Bishnoi, who is resting comfortably in a Gujarat jail under the BJP government’s patronage,” Cheema said. “Why is he being kept in Ahmedabad? The BJP wants to keep these gangsters under its grip and use them to create unrest in states where it does not have a government.”
Verma was gunned down in broad daylight by three unidentified assailants on July 7. Following the attack, gangster Aarzoo Bishnoi, a known associate of Lawrence Bishnoi, allegedly claimed responsibility through a Facebook post.
Cheema’s comments come amid heightened political tensions between Punjab and the Centre, with the Aam Aadmi Party-led state government frequently accusing the BJP of undermining state autonomy through federal agencies and covert influence.
There was no immediate response from the BJP on Cheema’s allegations. However, the matter is expected to intensify partisan sparring in the Assembly, which is currently in session to discuss several sensitive issues including gang violence, sacrilege laws, and internal security.
