The rapid deteriorating law and order in Punjab, Uddhav and Raj Thackeray alliance in Maharashtra and the revision of voter lists by the Election Commission in Bihar and the instructions of the Supreme Court on it have been prominently held by Punjabi newspapers this week.
The Punjabi Tribune, published from Chandigarh on the law and order of the state, writes in its editorial “growing crime in Punjab”- The murder of Abohar’s businessman Sanjay Verma in broad daylight and the killing of actress Tania’s father in a clinic in Moga has exposed how easily committing criminal activities in the organized crime state. The newspaper writes that unemployment, drug addiction and the greed for earning money in educated youth is pushing many Punjabi youth towards crime. The glory of propaganda and gangsters on social media is working to add ghee to the fire. The criminal-attentive alliance in Punjab is no longer local; It has become international, technically competent and ideologically unstable. The longer this crisis, the more difficult it will be to bring the future of Punjab back on track.
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‘Punjabi Jagran’ published from Jalandhar writes- Punjab has been in the news due to increase in criminal activities for some time. An incident in Abohar has created a sensation throughout the state. A group associated with the Lawrence Bishnoi gang took responsibility for the incident through a post on social media. It is not that this is the first such incident in the state. This incident is common. The incident of Abohar has also highlighted the increasing cases of forced recovery in Punjab.
Ajit, published from Jalandhar, writes – Nowadays there is a dominance of looting in the entire state. After the incident of Abohar, the government has once again come under target of opposition parties. The opposition, especially the Congress, has demanded a special debate from the Chief Minister on the issue of law and order in the Legislative Assembly.
The Punjab Times writes daily published from Jalandhar-According to the reports of the year 2023-24, there has been an increase in cases related to forced recovery and threats in Punjab. According to Punjab Police data, 278 cases of forced recovery and threats were registered from June 2022 to February 2023, which increased to 307 from March 2023 to December 2023. This growth is presenting a big challenge for the society and police administration. The newspaper writes, the murder of Sidhu Mosewala exposed the seriousness of organized crime, but no major action was taken against it. The incidents of forced recovery have created an atmosphere of fear among the businessmen and small industrialists of Punjab. Many traders and artists are thinking of leaving their business or profession due to threats. This is negatively impacting the state’s economy.
Spokesman writes daily published from Chandigarh, 15 cases of murder have been registered in Chandigarh so far this year. Statistics show that the increasing migration of rapid urbanization, other factors as well as the migration of the younger generation from Uttar Pradesh and Bihar to Punjab and Chandigarh has also increased rapidly in the number of serious and fatal crimes. In the businesses that specialize the local people, demands like banning the entry of outsiders are beginning to rise at the political and social level. Punjab and Chandigarh also now need to take some meaningful steps in this direction.
The Election Commission in Bihar writes ‘Punjabi Tribune’ published from Chandigarh on the recent instructions of the Supreme Court in Bihar- the Supreme Court has allowed the Election Commission to continue the special intensive revision of voter lists in Bihar, but has asked the Election Commission a very relevant question: Why now? The court has said the right thing that it is natural to create doubts in the minds of people due to such an exercise a few months before the assembly elections. The Supreme Court has surprised why the Aadhaar card is not being considered in this process. He believes that election officials should consider Aadhaar card, voter ID card and ration card. The ‘Deshsevak’ published from Chandigarh writes- Despite small obstacles, the Election Commission has earned respect not only in the country but also in the world. The Election Commission has a challenge to save its honesty in the Bihar elections.
‘Aj Di Awaaz’ published from Jalandhar writes – Assembly elections are going to be held in Bihar this year. Chief Minister Nitish Kumar is adopting every tactic to win the election. The law and order situation in Bihar is not good. The incidents of killings of influencers and businessmen have deeply pushed the image of the state government. The youth are unemployed and the general public is facing inflation. In such a situation, Nitish Kumar has also made big announcements to woo the public during the elections like other politicians. The newspaper further writes, the time selected by the Bihar government to start welfare schemes is questioning its honesty. If the government was really serious and vigilant about the problems of the people, then these announcements could have been made a year or two ago. This time will tell whether the announcements made to woo voters in the last days of the government prove to be effective.
Uddhav and Raj Thackeray’s alliance in Maharashtra writes ‘Aj Di Awaaz’ published from Jalandhar- The decision by the Maharashtra government led by Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis to teach Hindi in the state as the third language gave both cousins, Uddhav Thackeray and Raj Thackeray an opportunity to come closer. It seems as if the two leaders were waiting for the opportunity to come together. At the moment, both these parties are struggling to preserve their existence. The immediate goal of the Thackeray brothers is to set foot in the prestigious Mumbai Municipal Corporation. In Maharashtra, both the ruling coalition Mahayuti and opposition MVA are surrounded by internal differences. In view of the local body elections in the state, there will be more ups and downs in Maharashtra politics in the coming time and their performance will also decide their future in politics. Apart from this, there is a big question whether these two will contest local elections alone or will fight with MVA ally Congress and Sharad Pawar.
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The ‘Punjabi Tribune’ published from Chandigarh writes – This is the last solution adopted by Uddhav Thackeray, head of a Shiv Sena and Raj Thackeray, the head of Maharashtra Navnirman Sena. Uddhav and nephew Raj Thackeray, son of Shiv Sena founder Balasaheb Thackeray, are relying on the ‘Marathi Manush’ card to shine their political luck. They are accusing the BJP of distributing the people of Maharashtra on some pretext; However, his fight is not only against the saffron party, but also against the ‘official’ Shiv Sena led by Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde. The renovation of the Thackeray brothers means that Shinde can no longer take Marathi vote lightly.
-Dr. Ashish Vashistha (independent journalist)