BJP’s Ashwani Sharma slams CM Mann over Jhota murder case, questions his France visit
Babushahi Bureau
Pathankot (Punjab), October 17, 2026: Punjab BJP MLA and former state party president Ashwani Sharma on Saturday criticised Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann over the murder of Parvinder Singh Jhota, who had raised his voice against drugs in Mansa, alleging that the Chief Minister was avoiding accountability by travelling to France instead of answering public questions.
Speaking in Pathankot, Sharma said the murder case had triggered widespread anger across Punjab, with people taking to the streets and demanding answers from the state government.
He said the public wanted to know what steps the government was taking to protect those who raised their voices against drugs. Sharma added that the Chief Minister should address these concerns rather than travel abroad.
Raising concerns over the drug situation in Punjab, the BJP MLA questioned the effectiveness of the state government’s ‘Yudh Nasheyan Virudh’ (War Against Drugs) campaign. He alleged that while the government claimed to have given the police a free hand to act against drug trafficking, no action had been taken against AAP legislators accused of links with drug traffickers.
Sharma also referred to allegations levelled by Bhim Singh, father of Parvinder Singh Jhota, against Mansa AAP MLA Vijay Singla, accusing him of collusion with drug traffickers. Sharma questioned the state government’s response to these allegations and asked whether the anti-drug campaign was delivering on its stated objectives.
The BJP leader said the Aam Aadmi Party had made major promises to make Punjab drug-free before coming to power. He said the public was now demanding accountability from the government over those commitments.
The allegations against the AAP MLA remain allegations and require independent verification. No response from the Chief Minister or the MLA to Sharma’s remarks was included in the statement.