Protests erupts outside Sidhu Moosewala's house ahead of Bhagwant Mann visit

|HT|

Days after Punjab Congress leader Sidhu Moose Wala was shot dead not too far from his home, chief minister Bhagwant Mann is set to visit his house in the Mansa district on Friday. Heavy security arrangements have been made in the singer-politician's native village. The young rapper was killed on Sunday, a day after his security was scaled down by the state. Protests erupted outside Sidhu Moosewala's house on Friday morning ahead of the chief minister’s visit. Locals were angered by the blockade done by the police around the house. The police was accused of stopping the relatives from entering the home.

AAP MLA Gurpreet Banawali was also stopped by protesters, but the AAP leader apologised on behalf of the cops.

The Congress has been blaming the ruling government for the killing, and seeking a probe by a central agency - a demand that has been raised by Moose Wala's family too.

On Wednesday, a delegation - led by Punjab Congress chief Amarinder Singh Warring - had met governor Banwari Lal Purohit in this regard. Leader of opposition in the state assembly, Partap Singh Bajwa, had also attacked the AAP for not meeting the grieving family. "It’s been four days and not one M.P or Minister of ruling party AAP has visited the house of Sidhu Moosewala and stood by the family in this hour of grief. CM Bhagwant Mann ji is this what you meant when you said our Govt will be for AAM AADMI? (sic)" the Congress leader tweeted on Wednesday. Later on Thursday, Punjab finance minister Harpal Cheema and rural development minister Kuldeep Singh Dhaliwal visited Moosewala’s house and expressed grief upon meeting his father.

The state's decision to downgrade the security of over 400 VIPs - in what was pitched as a move against "VIP culture" - has drawn wide criticism after the Moose Wala killing.

On Thursday, the Punjab and Haryana high court told the government to take back the order.

"I welcome the decision of Honourable Punjab and Haryana High Court to restore back security of all 424 individuals. It’s high time that CM Bhagwant Mann relinquishes charge as Home Minister and gives it to someone more competent & professional. (sic)," Bajwa tweeted after the court order.

(Except for the headline and the pictorial description, this story has not been edited by THE DEN staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)