State facilitated Bishnoi interview from jail, says opposition; AAP govt denies

Chandigarh: A TV interview of gangster Lawrence Bishnoi, purportedly from inside the jail in which he had claimed to have no role in the last year’s killing of Punjabi singer Sidhu Moosewala, has created uproar in Punjab hours after it was broadcasted on Tuesday, March 14.

Lawrence Bishnoi, who was pinned as the mastermind of Moosewala's sensational murder case, is currently lodged in Punjab’s Bathinda jail.

While Bishnoi said during the interview that he used loopholes in the prison system to access the mobile phone to reach out to the channel, the Punjab prisoners department categorically denied that Punjab jail premises were used to record the interview.

“Rumours are that the interview was recorded from inside Bathinda Jail. This is to clarify that the rumours are baseless and that this video is not from either Bathinda Jail, where the prisoner is currently confined or from any other jail in Punjab,” the official statement read.

The Punjab department further clarified that this prisoner was at present confined in the high-security zone of Bathinda Jail, where strict surveillance is kept over his activities 24×7.

“If anyone is caught spreading fake news tarnishing the image of Punjab Prisons administration, action as per law shall be initiated,” it added.

But as the interview has gone viral, the a-year-old Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) government in Punjab come under the fiery attack of opposition parties in Punjab.

“The AAP government instead of taking strict actions against gangsters are trying to muzzle the voices of the media, opposition & people by issuing threats of action for asking questions about the purported in-jail interview of Bishnoi. Govt should clarify where he was interviewed,” asked Congress leader Sukhpal Khaira in his tweet.

The @BhagwantMann govt instead of taking strict actions against gangsters is trying to muzzle voice of media,opposition & people by issuing threats of action for asking questions about the purported in jail interview of Bishnoi. Govt should clarify where was he interviewed taken? pic.twitter.com/98mcdW0BMk

— Sukhpal Singh Khaira (@SukhpalKhaira) March 15, 2023

Senior Bharatiya Janata Party leader Manjinder Singh Sirsa said in a tweet that Lawrence Bishnoi’s interview has put a big question mark on the police administration in Punjab.

“Lately, there was news of gang wars happening in Punjab’s jails. (Now) Gangsters are having fun in Punjab’s jail while Sidhu Moosewala's parents are on the roads for Justice. Since Lawrence Bishnoi is in Punjab’s Jail right now, the AAP government must answer and clarify on Jail Administration,” he added.

Lawrence Bishnoi’s interview puts a big question mark on the Police Administration in Punjab.

Lately, there was News of gang wars happening in Punjab’s Jails. Gangsters are having fun in Punjab’s Jail while #SidhuMoosewala parents are on roads for Justice.

Since #LawrenceBishnoi… https://t.co/XLiAvMfSVo pic.twitter.com/XYx1nuQPJ2

— Manjinder Singh Sirsa (@mssirsa) March 15, 2023

Sukhbir Singh Badal, president of Shiromani Akali Dal, went a step further, alleging in a series of tweets that the state facilitated Sidhu Moosewala murder suspect's interview to divert the attention from their own complicity in this case.

“Punjab CM Bhagwant Mann buckled to gangsters and he is using a dreaded gangster to defame Sidhu Moosewala on the pretext of "explaining" a heinous crime,” he then alleged.

Lawrence, Warring, Bhagwant - what a deadly nexus has been revealed by a dreaded gangster from Punjab jail !!! Who is safe and who is corrupt and where has Punjab law & order situation deteriorated to? 1/2https://t.co/GkcD2Ot10p

— Sukhbir Singh Badal (@officeofssbadal) March 14, 2023

“Is this how he will give justice to the Moosewala family? This shows that Punjab CM Bhagwant Mann has no moral authority to continue as Chief Minister. Akali Dal is with the Moosewala family. We will force this govt to do justice in the case,” Badal said.

While the AAP government is yet to officially react to political allegations, Lawrence Bishnoi interview incidentally came a week after the parents of Sidhu Moosewala held a dharna outside the Vidhan Sabha budget session for the delay in the justice into his son’s killing.

In his interview, Bishnoi, whose custody Punjab police took last year in June, claimed that he was not involved in planning to kill Sidhu Moosewala.

He claimed his associates - Goldy Brar and Sachin Bishnoi - hatched the plan to kill Moosewala to avenge the killing of their close associate Vicky Middukhera in which the role of Moosewala’s manager was proven but no action was taken against him.

He further claimed that Moosewala was not a saint as he was projected after his murder. “Tell me one instance when Sidhu Moosewala spoke against gangsters, drug problems, Pakistan or Khalistan,” he added.