A day after the killing of noted Punjabi singer and Congress leader Sidhu Moosewala, Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann on Monday announced to set up a Judicial Commission under chairmanship of a sitting judge of Punjab and Haryana High Court for enquiring into the murder.

Moosewala, who was also a Congress leader, was shot dead by unidentified assailants in Punjab's Mansa district on Sunday, a day after the state government curtailed his security cover.  He had fought the recent assembly election in Punjab on a Congress ticket from Mansa and was defeated by the AAP's Vijay Singla. Shubhdeep Singh Sidhu, known as Sidhu Moosewala, was among the 424 people whose security was withdrawn or curtailed by the Punjab Police on Saturday temporarily. Moosewala was left with two Punjab Police commandos after the state police withdrew two of four commandos from his security cover. However, he neither took the remaining two commandos nor his bullet-proof vehicle with him on Sunday.

The Chief Minister, while acceding to request by Balkar Singh Sidhu, the father of slain singer, said that the state government will be requesting the Chief Justice of Punjab and Haryana High Court to get the case enquired into by the sitting judge of Punjab and Haryana High Court. Mann said that the state government will ensure full cooperation to this Enquiry Commission including roping in any of the central agencies like National Investigation Agency (NIA). 

Condemning the gruesome murder, Mann unequivocally said that the government will leave no stone unturned to put the perpetrators of this heinous crime behind the bars. He said that he has already issued directions to Police for thorough investigation of the case in a prompt and result oriented manner and categorically said that all the aspects of security reduction of the late singer are also under scrutiny and responsibility of lapse, if any, will be definitely fixed.

Expressing deep shock and grief at the sad and untimely demise of Moose Wala, the Chief Minister said that the departed singer was a celebrated artist and a cultural icon of Punjab. 

NEVER CALLED MOOSEWALA GANGSTER OR AFFILIATED WITH GANGSTERS, SAYS PUNJAB DGP 

Punjab DGP V K Bhawra on Monday said he never called Sidhu Moosewala a gangster or that he was affiliated with gangsters.  The director general of police's (DGP) clarification came after the slain Punjabi singer's father Balkaur Singh wrote to Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann demanding a public apology from Bhawra for linking his son's killing with a gang war.

In the letter to the chief minister, Singh had also demanded a probe by a sitting high court judge into the killing of his son.  Later, in a statement, DGP Bhawra said he has the highest respect for Sidhu Moosewala, and called him a celebrated artist and a cultural icon of Punjab.  Condemning the killing, the state police chief said an investigation was underway and the perpetrators of the crime would be brought to justice. Bhawra further said on no occasion, has he ever said that Moosewala was a gangster or affiliated with gangsters.

''Claims and counterclaims by various persons claiming to be gangsters are being made on social media. One Goldy Brar has claimed responsibility on behalf of the Lawrence Bishnoi gang (for the killing of Moosewala),'' said the DGP.  The investigation would look into all aspects, he further said, adding that he has been misquoted by a section of the media and he has the highest regard for Moosewala.

The Punjab police DGP on Sunday said, ''This incident (killing of Moosewala) seems to be a case of an inter-gang rivalry.'' He added that the Lawrence Bishnoi gang was behind the killing.  At least three weapons and 30 empty cartridge cases were recovered from the killing site.

SAD DELEGATION MEETS PUNJAB GOVERNOR, SEEKS DISMISSAL OF AAP GOVT 

A SAD delegation on Monday met Punjab Governor Banwarilal Purohit and sought the dismissal of the AAP-led state government and an NIA probe into the matter.  The four-member delegation comprised Shiromani Akali Dal president Sukhbir Singh Badal and party leaders Prem Singh Chandumajra, Balwinder Singh Bhundar and Daljit Singh Cheema.

''Met Governor Punjab & urged him to dismiss @BhagwantMann from his office. He doesn't deserve to remain the CM. He is pushing the State back into black days of anarchy. We also demand a NIA probe into the killing of Moosewala as Pbis (Punjabis) don't trust the AAP govt to give justice in the case,'' Badal said in a series of tweets.  The SAD chief also demanded a probe by a sitting High Court judge into the alleged lapses in ordering the withdrawal of the security cover of several people and that Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann be booked for making public confidential information.

''We demand probe by sitting HC judge into lapses committed in ordering withdrawal of security cover of prominent personalities. It was done unilaterally by CM without holding a meeting of the security review comm. Officers responsible for this lapse should be proceeded against,'' Badal said.

''CM @BhagwantMann is directly responsible for #SidhuMooseWalaDeath. A case should be registered against him for violating oath of office & releasing confidential info about withdrawal of security of Moosewala as well as Sri Akal Takth Jathedar & political leaders on AAP portal,'' he said.  The SAD delegation said security should be granted on the basis of threat perception alone and it should not be politicised.

''Punjab CM @BhagwantMann should explain why 80 Punjab Police personnel have been deputed for security of Delhi CM @ArvindKejriwal & why four security vehicles have been deputed with @Raghav_Chadha,'' Badal said. 

Moosewala was among the 424 people whose security was withdrawn or curtailed by the Punjab government on Saturday on a temporary basis.


MANN SHOULD QUIT, SAYS BJP

It has been a complete collapse of the AAP Government's intelligence and security network that has been reflected in more than two dozen murder incidents involving public figures, said BJP national general secretary Tarun Chugh.  In  a statement issued here, he said Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann, being Home Minister,  owes an explanation to the state why information about security was made public. "Are you looking for cheap publicity making the border state vulnerable to the Pakistan ISI designs?" he asked, adding that if you are unable to handle the situation you should quit and go to Kejriwal for advice.  "We respect democracy but the fact AAP will put Punjab to flames was a foregone conclusion ", Chugh added


HP CM DEMANDS INQUIRY INTO THE KILLING 

Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister Jai Ram Thakur on Monday demanded a high-level inquiry into the killing of Sidhu Moosewala and charged that the AAP government curtailed his security for getting fake appreciation from the public. He also accused the Aam Aadmi Party AAP government in Punjab of not taking any action against Khalistanis despite their raising pro-Khalistan slogans and waving Khalistani flags.

Talking to reporters, Thakur said the Himachal Pradesh government acted swiftly and arrested both the accused from Punjab within five days after they had written Khalistani slogans and fixed the Khalistani flag on the outer wall of the state Assembly in Dharamshala but the AAP government did not take any action after such activities by Khalistanis in that state. Holding that the AAP government is neither in the interest of the country nor Punjab, Thakur alleged that the law and order situation has been deteriorating in Punjab since the AAP came to power two months ago.  While demanding a high-level inquiry into the murder of Moosewala, Thakur said the AAP government had withdrawn or curtailed the security of many protectees for getting ''political mileage''.