New Delhi: Ahead of the first death anniversary of Sidhu Moosewala, an interview by the prime accused in his murder, Lawrence Bishnoi, purportedly from inside jail, has stirred up a political controversy in the state with the Opposition Congress questioning the timing of the interview and demanding the resignation of Chief Minster Bhagwant Mann.
Congress leader Partap Singh Bajwa alleged that the Mann-led Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) government stage-managed the gangster’s interview as part of a broad plot to discredit the slain singer-turned-politician days before his first death anniversary Sunday.
Moosewala (28) was killed in broad daylight in Punjab’s Mansa on 29 May last year. Police suspect gangster Lawrence Bishnoi masterminded the murder, along with his close aide Goldy Brar, a Canada-based gangster.
“As Moosewala parents recently staged a dharna outside the Punjab Vidhan Sabha during the ongoing budget session and had been speaking against the AAP government for failing to arrest the main culprits behind their son’s murder, the government stage-managed the interview through a private channel to discourage people from reaching in large numbers at the death anniversary event,” Leader of Opposition Bajwa said.
Bajwa, along with Punjab Pradesh Congress Committee (PPCC) Chief Amarinder Raja Warring and former deputy chief minister Sukhjinder Randhawa, demanded the resignation of the CM Mann, who holds the prisons portfolio.
“Bhagwant Mann, who is also the Jails and Prisons Minister, should bear moral responsibility for three consecutive incidents— Amritpal Singh’s siege of the Ajnala police station, the conflict between two gangs, and the interview of Lawrence Bishnoi,” the Congress leaders said at a press conference.
For Balkaur Singh, the father of Sidhu Moosewala, the whole incident is simply a “violation of journalistic ethics that has contributed to the deterioration of law and order”.
Singh, who has for the last week demonstrating in front of the Punjab Assembly demanding a CBI inquiry into his son’s murder case, responded to the interview by claiming that it was part of a larger plot to discredit Moosewala before his first barsi (death anniversary).
“Sidhu Moosewala has carved a place in the hearts of the people, thus such people will never succeed in their objectives,” the father asserted.
Meanwhile, self-styled Sikh preacher Amritpal Singh Sandhu who openly espouses the cause of Khalistan, reportedly asked people during a public meeting to continue fighting for the panth (community) and to not let anyone pursue or turn against them as was the case in the aftermath of the Moosewala murder.
In response to Bishnoi’s claim, reports quoted Singh as saying, “While the rest of the population is free to act as they choose, governments are the enemies of the Sikh people’s blood. Lawrence may even become a minister. This also occurred when Bhindranwale was in power.”
Also read: Who is Lawrence Bishnoi? ‘Farmer’s son who threatened Salman now in news for Moose Wala killing’
The ‘exclusive’ interview
Bishnoi, currently being held at Bathinda Jail in Punjab, in an “exclusive interview” he gave to ABP News on 15 March claimed he had not ordered the killing of Moosewala. In the interview, Bishnoi also expressed anger towards actor Salman Khan, from whom he sought an apology for his alleged role in the blackbucks case.
However, Punjab Police claimed Thursday that Lawrence Bishnoi’s interview was not conducted while he was at the high-security Bathinda Jail or any other jail in the state.
Addressing a press conference at the police headquarters in Chandigarh, the state’s acting Director-General of Police (DGP) Gaurav Yadav said, “It has come to notice that a privatearon TV news channel aired an interview of prisoner Lawrence Bishnoi purportedly from inside a jail. Rumours are doing rounds that the interview was recorded inside Bathinda Jail. This is to clarify that the rumours are baseless and that this video is neither from Bathinda Jail, where the prisoner is currently confined, nor from any other jail in Punjab.”
The officer asserted that the interview was part of a broad plot to stir up disturbance in Punjab and said it was impossible to use a cellphone or the internet inside the jail premises. He claimed that the interview appeared to have taken place much earlier.
Gangster Bishnoi in February travelled back from Rajasthan, where he had been detained for interrogation in relation to an extortion and arson case that had been filed in January.
In the “interview“, he alleged that Goldy Brar, another gangster implicated in the case, was behind the planning of Moosewala’s murder and that he was not involved in the murder, and that he was a nationalist who opposed Pakistan and Khalistan.
Bishnoi also alleged that Moosewala had been protecting the individuals responsible for killing Vicky Middukhera, suspected to be a close associate of his gang.
The gangster also expressed anger against Salman Khan. “There is anger in our society for Salman Khan (for killing blackbucks). He humiliated my society. A case was filed against him but he did not apologise,” he said.
Bishnoi threatened that “If he (Salman Khan) does not tender an apology, be ready to face the consequences. I will not depend on anyone else.”
“There is anger in my mind for him since childhood. Will break his ego sooner or later. He should come to our deity’s temple and apologise. If our society forgives, then I will not say anything,” he added.
Meanwhile, following Bishnoi’s interview, the Gounder gang — the gang was formed after Vicky Gounder was killed in an encounter by the Punjab Police — reportedly issued threats on social media. The gang claimed in a message that was posted in Punjabi that Lawrence and Goldy were traitors, adding that Lawrence was talking while he was incarcerated and if he had the guts, he face them in an open fight.
(Edited by Richa Mishra)
Also Read: Calls from Tihar, stalking reels’: Police say Bishnoi ‘macromanaged’ Moose Wala murder from jail