In the political landscape of Punjab, vendetta politics is not a new phenomenon. Successive governments—be it Congress, Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD), or others—have faced allegations of using state power to settle political scores. However, under the current rule of the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP), this disturbing trend appears to have crossed all previous limits. Political observers, civil rights activists, and even common citizens now argue that the AAP government has institutionalised political vendetta in a way that threatens the very democratic fabric of the state.
Since coming to power with the promise of change, transparency, and a corruption-free Punjab, AAP has instead become synonymous with FIRs, arrests, and a police state mentality. Opposition leaders, activists, and even journalists who dare to question the government’s functioning or expose its failures are allegedly being targeted with fabricated cases, harassment, and in some instances, illegal detentions. The government, critics say, has not only weaponized the police but has also created an atmosphere of fear that stifles dissent and discourages any form of critique.
What has added fuel to this fire is a shocking statement made openly by Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann at a public rally. In front of cameras and a live audience, he boasted that when the Punjab Police picks someone up, not even their family members will be able to find where their son is kept. This deeply disturbing comment, far from being a slip of the tongue, is now being viewed as a green signal to the police to act outside the bounds of legality and human rights.
As a result, reports have emerged of young men being taken into custody without proper legal procedures, held in undisclosed locations, and tortured during interrogation. In some tragic cases, deaths have allegedly occurred due to brutal police beatings, raising serious questions about custodial violence under the current regime. Families of the victims are left broken, and justice seems a far cry in the absence of impartial investigations.
This environment of repression has led many to dub the current regime as “the government of FIRs and political vendetta.” Police stations have reportedly become tools of political warfare, not institutions of justice. Even minor critics or those who share anti-government content on social media have found themselves on the receiving end of state action. The line between governance and revenge appears to be completely blurred.
The judiciary, too, has been flooded with petitions for anticipatory bail, quashing of FIRs, and protection from arrest, indicating the fear prevailing among opposition leaders and civil society. Legal experts have raised alarms about the misuse of preventive detention laws and the vague invocation of national security concerns to silence peaceful protest and political expression.
Furthermore, the administrative machinery that was supposed to serve the people is now being accused of acting as a political tool. Transfers of honest officers, selective leaks of information, and media manipulation have all contributed to an atmosphere where the truth is difficult to find and fear prevails over freedom.
The growing disillusionment among the people of Punjab is palpable. Many who voted for AAP with the hope of clean politics and people-centric governance are now questioning whether their mandate has been hijacked for personal and political gain. Protests, social media campaigns, and street-level anger are beginning to emerge as the public realizes that the promise of a “New Punjab” may be turning into a nightmare.
In a state that has always prided itself on its democratic spirit and vibrant civil society, this descent into authoritarianism and political oppression has sparked national and international concern. Civil rights groups have demanded independent inquiries into custodial deaths, the repeal of politically motivated FIRs, and restoration of constitutional norms in governance.
The people of Punjab are no strangers to struggle, and history shows that they have always risen to resist injustice. Whether this current wave of vendetta politics will spark another such resistance remains to be seen—but one thing is clear: the voices of the oppressed will not remain silent forever.