New Delhi, Oct. 16 -- Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Friday said the Centre will seek Punjab government's response over two incidents in the state: a father consuming poison under pressure in Dirba and the broad daylight killing of anti-drug activist Parvinder Singh Jhota in Mansa.

In a post on X, Shah said Punjab is today grappling with a rising threat of drugs, gangsterism and organised crime. He asked Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann who will ultimately bear the responsibility for the safety of Punjab's people.

"In Dirba, a father succumbing to pressure and consuming poison, and in Mansa, the broad-daylight murder of Parvinder Singh Jhota -- who had raised his voice against drugs -- have raised serious questions about the law and order situation in Punjab," Shah's post read.

Jhota's father has levelled grave allegations against the ruling Aam Aadmi Party government and their MLA, it said, adding that the Home Ministry will seek responses from the Punjab government on both the incidents.

The first incident Shah referred to was the death by suicide of Gulzar Singh, who hailed from Dirba in Sangrur, on September 7. Gulzar's family had alleged that he consumed poison after being harassed and subjected to casteist slurs for questioning Punjab Finance Minister Harpal Singh Cheema about the supply of drugs in his locality.

In his X post, Shah said, "In Punjab, the drug trade is flourishing, the threat of organised crime is growing, and questions are being raised about the safety of those who speak out against drugs."

Addressing Chief Minister Mann, Shah said the people of Punjab want results, not publicity.

Reacting to Shah's post, Mann pointed to a drug seizure at a Gujarat port and advised the home minister to take responsibility for his own duties.

In an X post, Mann said, "Amit Shah ji, you should have consulted with your advisors before speaking about me. The BSF has jurisdiction over a 50-kilometre range. 3,000 kilograms of 'chitta' are being seized at the Kandla port in Gujarat. Before blaming Bhagwant Mann, take responsibility for your own duties. Do not simply copy-paste tweets drafted for your sycophants."

Published by HT Digital Content Services with permission from Millennium Post.