Mansa: A dispute has emerged within the protest movement over Union Home Minister Amit Shah’s scheduled visit to Mansa on October 20. The Action Committee formed after the murder of anti-drug activist Parvinder Singh ‘Jhota’ has announced that it will oppose Shah’s visit and will not allow him to address the gathering. However, Jhota’s father, Bhim Singh Fauji, has said that all political leaders who come to support the family should be welcomed.

Shah is scheduled to visit Mansa, Sangrur and Gurdaspur to meet the families of people who spoke out against the drug trade. Two of the individuals were murdered, while another died by suicide.

The Action Committee has also objected to Shah’s proposed meeting with Jhota’s family. At a meeting held on Sunday evening, the committee decided to ask Bhim Singh to keep his distance from the Union Home Minister.

The disagreement comes as Jhota’s family continues its sit-in protest, demanding justice for the activist who was shot dead on October 13.

Jhota’s Father Says Decisions Were Made Without Consulting Him

Bhim Singh Fauji released a video on social media on Monday morning, accusing some people associated with the protest movement of making decisions without keeping him fully informed.

He said decisions taken between October 13 and 16 had been made in consultation with him. However, he claimed he was not directly informed about discussions and decisions taken on October 17 and 18.

Bhim Singh said he learned about those decisions from other people and questioned why he had not been consulted despite earlier assurances.

He stressed that justice for his son remained his main priority. He also said political leaders visiting the protest site to support the cause should not face opposition.

Bhim Singh reiterated his demand for a Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) probe into the murder. He said the Union Home Minister could take the initiative and the Central Government should order an investigation.

Action Committee Questions Centre’s Role in Tackling Drugs

Hardeep Singh, a leader of the Action Committee, said the group had questioned the steps taken by the BJP-led Central Government to tackle the drug menace.

He argued that the spread of drugs was not only Punjab’s problem and said the Centre also had a responsibility to take concrete action against drug trafficking.

The committee plans to raise its demands with the district administration during a meeting scheduled for October 19. The discussions are expected to cover the murder investigation, action against the accused and justice for Jhota’s family.

The committee has maintained that it will oppose Shah’s visit, while the family’s position, as expressed by Bhim Singh, is that leaders who come to support the protest should be welcomed.

Amit Shah to Meet Families Affected by Drug Menace

In a Facebook post, Amit Shah announced that he would visit Mansa, Sangrur and Gurdaspur on October 20 to meet the families of people who had spoken against drugs.

Targeting the Aam Aadmi Party government in Punjab, Shah alleged that the trade in chitta, a synthetic drug commonly associated with the state’s drug problem, was flourishing under government protection.

He said the deaths of people who raised their voices against drugs had caused deep grief and that he intended to meet their families.

Shah also said the Government of India would identify those involved in drug trafficking and work to send them to jail. He asserted that attempts to silence people speaking against drugs would not succeed.

Jhota’s Family Continues Sit-In, Demands CBI Probe

Parvinder Singh ‘Jhota’ was shot dead on October 13 after he allegedly opposed the sale of drugs at a medical store. Chemist Ashwani Kumar has been identified in the supplied account as the accused in the killing.

Jhota’s family has continued its sit-in protest since the murder. The protest entered its seventh day on October 19, and the post-mortem examination had yet to be conducted, according to the information provided.

The family remains firm on five demands, including a CBI investigation into the case. The upcoming meeting with the district administration is expected to address the demands and the action being sought against those accused in the murder.

The disagreement over Shah’s visit has added another point of tension to the ongoing protest, with the Action Committee opposing the proposed engagement and Jhota’s father insisting that political support should be welcomed.