Bathinda: The scale of protests following Tuesday’s killing of anti-drug activist Parwinder Singh Jhota has revived memories of the public outrage that swept Mansa after rapper Shubhdeep Singh alias ‘Sidhu Moosewala’ was shot dead on May 29, 2022.Though the circumstances of the two killings differ, the anger on the streets has drawn comparisons. The protests after Jhota’s murder escalated to the torching of the accused chemist’s shop, reportedly in the presence of police.On both occasions, protesters turned their anger towards the political class and authorities over their handling of the situation. After Moosewala’s murder, questions were raised over the withdrawal of his security cover and the circumstances in which he was attacked. Following Jhota’s killing, the police’s assertion that the shooting stemmed from personal enmity fuelled further anger among protesters.The protests after Moosewala’s killing had brought Mansa to a standstill, with the state govt facing sharp criticism over law and order. More than four years later, Jhota’s killing has again put AAP govt under pressure, with protesters and opposition parties questioning its response to the drug menace and the safety of those fighting it.On both occasions, the ruling dispensation faced a wave of public anger, while opposition parties seized on the killings to attack the govt. The authorities’ distance from the protests reflected the challenge of responding to public outrage in a politically charged atmosphere.
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