Union Home Minister Amit Shah is visiting Punjab on October 20, with planned stops at the homes of three people who died in drug-related incidents and an appearance at a Dussehra celebration in Ludhiana.
Shah will arrive at Amritsar Airport from Delhi before travelling by helicopter to Gurdaspur. There, he is scheduled to meet the family of Bikramjit Singh, who was murdered. The family’s visit comes amid concerns over drug abuse and the circumstances surrounding his death.
From Gurdaspur, Shah will travel to Tur Banjara village in Dirba, Sangrur district, to meet the family of Gulzar Singh, who died by suicide after allegedly facing harassment over questioning AAP minister Harpal Cheema.
He will then visit Mansa to meet the family of Parvinder Singh Jhota, an anti-drug activist who was shot dead. The meeting is scheduled to include Jhota’s father, wife and sons at a local park.
In the evening, Shah is scheduled to attend the Dussehra celebrations at Daresi Ground in Ludhiana, where he will participate in the traditional Ravan Dahan, the burning of Ravan’s effigy.
Ahead of the visit, the Union Ministry of Home Affairs sought a report from the Punjab government regarding the deaths of Bikramjit Singh and Parvinder Jhota, and Gulzar Singh’s suicide.
Meanwhile, Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann announced a Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) probe into Jhota’s murder ahead of Shah’s visit.
Punjab Finance Minister Harpal Cheema accused the BJP of “playing politics over dead bodies”. Punjab minister Aman Arora also raised four questions directed at Shah ahead of his visit.
Security arrangements have been strengthened for the Union Home Minister’s programme. Punjab DGP M.F. Farooqui said comprehensive security measures had been put in place, with approximately 1,200 to 1,300 personnel deployed for the visit.