SAD demands CM Mann’s resignation over cops’ killing

Patiala: The Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) on Monday demanded the resignation of Punjab chief minister Bhagwant Mann, alleging that he has "lost the moral authority" to continue in office after what it called a collapse of law and order and a "failure of constitutional machinery" in the state.Addressing the media at Anandpur Sahib in Ropar, senior SAD leader Daljit Singh Cheema said the killing of an ASI and a head constable near Dorangala police station in Gurdaspur district, close to the international border, had shown that "even police personnel are not safe". He said terror outfits had earlier targeted the State Intelligence headquarters with a rocket launcher and lobbed grenades at police stations in the border belt.
Cheema held CM Bhagwant Mann responsible for the situation as he also heads the home department. "It is clear the chief minister is incapable of leading the home ministry. He must take moral responsibility for the multiple killings — 25 this month alone, some outside police stations and even court complexes — and resign immediately," he said.On the Dorangala incident, Cheema alleged that the police "remained clueless" about the shooting for nearly 12 hours and had still not traced the attackers.He alleged that the AAP government's approach to maintaining law and order stood in contrast to how it dealt with farmers, government employees, the media and political opponents. "CM Mann has created a police state by tear gassing farmers and ordering arrests without reason, besides registering false cases against media personnel and opponents. Yet he has failed to curb gangsters and terror outfits, who are now calling the shots. Only Bhagwant Mann's removal can reset governance in Punjab," he said.