Issue of recruitment of non-Punjabis for VVIP security of Punjab

The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) Punjab president and MP Bhagwant Mann termed the recruitment of non-Punjabis by the Congress and the Akali-BJP government for the security of the Chief Minister as a betrayal with Punjab, Punjabi and Punjabiyat. He appealed to the people of Punjab to give a stern response to the distrust shown towards Punjab, Punjabi and the people of Punjab by Parkash Singh Badal and Sukhbir Badal, Capt Amarinder Singh, the Congress and the Akali Dal Badal, who had betrayed Punjab; in the forthcoming Punjab Assembly elections.

In a statement issued from the party headquarters here on Friday, Bhagwant Mann said, “The Akali Dal's Parkash Singh Badal and Sukhbir Badal and the Congress's Capt Amarinder Singh, who ruled by pitching for the protection of Punjab, Punjabi and Punjabiyat; had no faith in the people of Punjab, because Badals and Captain gave jobs to 209 people from other states in the ‘Special Protection Unit’ set up for their security and for their families and other closed ones; while only 19 youth of Punjab got the job, which is a betrayal with Punjab, Punjabi and Punjabiyat.

He alleged that by recruiting DSPs, inspectors, sub-inspectors and Jawans from other states in the ‘Special Protection Unit’, the Badals and Captain had not only stabbed the people of Punjab in the back but also looted the Punjab exchequer. Bhagwant Mann disclosed that the Chief Minister of Akali-BJP government, Parkash Singh Badal had recruited 146 persons from other states in 2014 and 2016 at the time of recruitment of security officers and personnel in the ‘Special Protection Unit’. Similarly the former Congress Chief Minister Capt Amarinder Singh recruited 63 non-Punjabis in the year 2021.

As a result not only job opportunities have been missed for the deserving and promising youth of Punjab, who have been struggling for employment; but also the promotion process in the Punjab Police has been disrupted which has directly harmed the jawans and officers of the state. Mann alleged that the Badals and Captain, who ruled Punjab by taking votes from the people, did not trust the Punjabis but they talked about saving Punjab, Punjabi and Punjabiyat.

Bhagwant Mann asked Punjab Chief Minister Charanjit Singh Channi and Home Minister Sukhjinder Singh Randhawa what decision the government has taken in providing jobs to non-Punjabis in the ‘Special Protection Unit’. “What action will be taken against Parkash Singh Badal, Capt Amarinder Singh and other Akalis- Congressmen along with higher officials responsible for betraying the Punjabis? Will a case be registered against Badal, Captain and officials for betraying the people of Punjab,” said Mann.