Chandigarh-Senior Congress leader and Leader of the Opposition in Punjab, Partap Singh Bajwa, has raised pointed and pressing concerns about the silence surrounding notorious gangster Lawrence Bishnoi, accusing both the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP)-led Punjab government and the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)-led Union government of providing tacit protection. Speaking on the matter during Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Home Minister Amit Shah's visit to Panchkula, Bajwa articulated the growing unease among the people of Punjab, who are unnerved by the apparent inaction against a gangster involved in a series of grave crimes.
Bajwa, in his typically measured tone, remarked, "The people of Punjab are asking tough questions. Lawrence Bishnoi has been implicated in the killings of public figures such as Sidhu Moosewala, and more recently, NCP leader Baba Siddiqui. Yet, despite these heinous crimes, there seems to be a systemic shield around him. Why do both the AAP and BJP governments appear to be sheltering a figure so deeply enmeshed in criminal networks?"
The Congress veteran took specific issue with the Punjab Police’s recent report submitted to the Mohali court, which controversially recommended the cancellation of an FIR against Bishnoi in relation to a televised interview. The report, while clearing Bishnoi of extortion charges, downplayed his criminal intimidation as a "non-cognizable offence"—a move Bajwa sharply criticized. "Is this the kind of governance the AAP promised? A state where a notorious gangster can broadcast interviews and still evade justice?" he asked.
Bajwa's critique extended beyond Punjab, as he questioned the role of the Union government in allowing Bishnoi to maintain his criminal empire. Highlighting the gangster's continued influence from Sabarmati Jail, Bajwa queried, "Despite the Home Ministry’s extension of restrictions on Bishnoi’s movements until August 2025, it is evident that he continues to command his network from behind bars. How is this possible? Who is protecting him? On whose orders is he operating?"
In his characteristic approach of combining regional concerns with national accountability, Bajwa also pointed to international implications, referencing news reports from various countries about Bishnoi’s alleged involvement in crimes and extortion activities abroad. "The fact that his criminal web stretches beyond India’s borders raises further questions about the governments' failure to curb his operations."
The Congress leader called on Prime Minister Modi and Home Minister Shah to provide transparent and clear answers to the people of Punjab and the nation. He underscored that the Congress party would not be deterred in its pursuit of accountability, stating, "No political maneuvering will stop us from exposing the truth. The people deserve to know why a gangster, who has terrorized so many, continues to operate with apparent impunity."