Chandigarh : Punjab Congress in-charge Sachin Pilot on Sunday welcomed Union Home Minister Amit Shah’s upcoming visit to Punjab but said concrete and effective measures were needed to address the state’s deteriorating law and order situation.
Speaking to reporters, Pilot said the Centre had a responsibility to prevent the entry of illegal arms and drugs through the borders. He argued that stronger measures should have been taken earlier to control the situation.
“Law and order is a state subject, and killings are taking place here continuously,” Pilot said, alleging that the state government had failed to maintain law and order.
Pilot said he and Punjab Congress president Pargat Singh had been travelling across the state, meeting families affected by killings and offering them support. They were also examining the progress of cases and the justice delivered to victims’ families, he said.
He alleged that witnesses were turning hostile, accused persons were securing bail and leaving jail, and families of victims continued to receive threatening phone calls.
Describing the situation as serious, Pilot said the Centre’s response should go beyond a visit to the state.
“If the government, particularly the Central Government, is genuinely concerned, merely visiting the state will not be enough. It must take concrete and effective steps,” he said.