The ruling Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) on Thursday appealed to the gangsters and the notorious criminals to quit the violence and return to social mainstream by surrendering before the police. “I appeal to the gangsters, still at large in Punjab, to shun the path of crime and come back into the social mainstream. Our government will adopt a soft stand towards them but gangsters will have to meet their fate under the law,” said the state’s Higher Education Minister Gurmeet Singh Meet Hayer. He said that AAP is making all efforts for the eventual rehabilitation of remaining criminals. Hayer pointed out that earlier, the criminals were patronised by politicians and the police; but under the Bhagwant Mann Government, no one will be allowed to disturb the state’s hard-earned peace at any cost. The Punjab police is committed to maintain the law and order in the state, he said.