Organised crime is Haryana's biggest industry, claims Congress MP Randeep Surjewala
Addressing a press conference in Chandigarh on the prevailing law-and-order situation, Mr. Surjewala alleged that the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) had turned Haryana, the land of the Bhagavad Gita, into the land of 'Gangs of Wasseypur', claiming that the State was ruled by 'mafias, guns, bullets and ransom' rather than by the Constitution.
Asserting that crime cannot flourish without political patronage, Mr. Surjewala said the police functioned at the behest of the political leadership. Those in power, he alleged, were either 'weak', 'worthless' and 'incompetent' to govern or were offering shelter to criminal elements. 'In both cases, they should quit,' he said.
Citing official figures, the former Haryana Minister claimed the deteriorating law-and-order situation was reflected not just in newspaper headlines but in official statistics. 'As per the National Crime Records Bureau, three people are murdered and five sexual offences are committed in Haryana daily. In 2024, 966 people were murdered and 16,743 crimes were committed against women, which means 46 women fell victim to these crimes every day. In the first quarter of 2025 alone, 4,137 people have gone missing, most cases being related to kidnapping,' he said.
Mr. Surjewala further said that during a meeting of seven Directors General of Police in February this year, the State government admitted that 80 criminal gangs — including the Lawrence, Bhau, Kaushal Chaudhary, Goldy Brar, Rana and Vikas Gulia (Dubai) gangs — were active in Haryana.
Blaming part of the situation on unemployment, Mr. Surjewala claimed that police officials had stated that these gangs, operating from India and countries such as Dubai, Canada, and Australia, were recruiting unemployed youth by offering amounts ranging between ₹5,000 and ₹20,000.
Mr. Surjewala, who is also the All India Congress Committee general secretary, said a report compiled by him based on press reports from nine districts indicated a 'dangerous trend'. According to him, Faridabad had recorded 41 murders so far this year, followed by 38 each in Jind and Gurugram, 25 in Panipat, 21 in Kaithal, 20 in Karnal, 18 in Kurukshetra, 15 in Yamunanagar and 11 in Sirsa. 'It was a similar situation during the Indian National Lok Dal's rule in 2005, and has now even worsened,' he said.
Comparing the situation with the previous Congress government, Mr. Surjewala said that prior to 2014, headlines were about sporting achievements, rising investments in the National Capital Region and Haryana's performance in development indices. 'After the BJP formed the government under Manohar Lal, the headlines changed to reports about paper leaks, corruption in jobs and atrocities on farmers. Under Nayab Saini, we are now reading about drug and sand mafias, an unbridled bureaucracy, and criminal extortion,' he alleged.
Reacting to the allegations, Haryana BJP president Mohan Lal Badoli said the police had taken strict action against criminals and the process of arrests had been expedited. He added that action would soon be taken against those issuing threats from abroad.
Hashtags

Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles


Mint
29 minutes ago
- Mint
‘Not a culmination, but a beginning': Kamal Haasan pens a thoughtful note on making Parliament debut
Superstar Kamal Haasan was sworn in as a Rajya Sabha Member of Parliament on Friday. The Tamil actor and politician took his oath in Tamil to resounding thumps on the table by fellow Parliamentarians. The 'Thug Life' actor expressed his happiness on his significant political milestone. The 69-year-old Makkal Needhi Maiam (MNM) founder and actor-turned-politician, talking to media persons outside the parliament earlier, said, 'I am very proud and honoured.' Kamal Haasan's election to the Upper House marks a significant milestone in his political journey, as he assumes a national legislative role for the first time. 'Today, as I rose to take the affirmation as a Member of Parliament in the Rajya Sabha, I did so with a heart full of humility and a conscience weighed by responsibility. I have sworn to uphold the Constitution of India – not as a ritual of formality, but as a solemn promise to serve its spirit with fidelity, courage, and conscience,' Haasan wrote later in a message on X. Haasan was nominated with the support of the ruling DMK-led alliance, which had promised him a Rajya Sabha seat in return for MNM's support during the 2024 Lok Sabha elections. 'This moment is not mine alone. I share it with my people, whose voices I carry into the chambers of power. I share it with the soil of Tamil Nadu that has nurtured me – a land that has produced poets and revolutionaries, thinkers and reformers, and above all, citizens who believe deeply in justice, dignity, and self-respect,' Haasan said in the three-page message. Haasan filed his nomination on June 6 at the Tamil Nadu Secretariat in the presence of Chief Minister MK Stalin, Deputy CM Udhayanidhi Stalin, among other political leaders. On June 12, Haasan, who is the president of MNM, and five others were elected unopposed to the Rajya Sabha from Tamil Nadu. The five others elected are DMK's Poet Salma (A Rokkaiah Malik), SR Sivalingam, P Wilson (who enters his second term), and AIADMK's IS Inbadurai and Dhanapal. Haasan promised that he would strive to be the voice of Tamil Nadu in Delhi — clear, compassionate, and committed —and that he would speak not for one community but for the common good. This moment is not mine alone. I share it with my people, whose voices I carry into the chambers of power. "With reverence for the Constitution, with faith in democracy, and with love for my people, I begin this chapter not as a culmination, but as a beginning,' he said. Key Takeaways Kamal Haasan emphasizes the importance of representing the voices of Tamil Nadu in Parliament. His election signifies a broader political strategy and alliance-building in the upcoming Lok Sabha elections. Haasan's approach combines reverence for the Constitution with a commitment to serve the common good.


The Hindu
29 minutes ago
- The Hindu
Revanth Reddy should make way for Ponnam Prabhakar or Mahesh Kumar Goud as CM: BJP president
Telangana BJP president N. Ramchander Rao suggested that Chief Minister A. Revanth Reddy should quit and hand over the post to his Cabinet colleague Ponnam Prabhakar or PCC President Mahesh Kumar Goud, both of them belonging to the Backward Classes (BCs) if he was really sincere about the BC welfare. In an informal interaction with the media at the State party office on Friday, Mr. Rao 'thanked' Mr. Reddy for making the suggestion of making former Governor Bandaru Dattatreya as the next Vice President and said the party will take a call on that and offered his own piece of advice to the CM. The BJP leader has accused Mr. Reddy of insulting the entire BC community with his comments that Prime Minister Modi belonged to a 'converted BC caste' and wanted to know what religion or caste his (CM) leader Rahul Gandhi belonged to. The Chief Minister should be given a 'Goebbels Prize' for all kinds of propaganda he was indulging in, he said and demanded the Congress first fulfil the promise of 42% quota for the BC in the local body polls by amending Section 285 of the Panchayat Raj Act to make it 'legally strong'. Mr. Rao said the Telangana government caste census cannot be a role model for the country when it had reduced the BCs numbers. It was unfair and outrageous to add 'all the Muslims' in the 10% quota out of the 42% BC quota when only a few castes like 'dudekulas', 'hajis' and 'pakirs' were included in the BC-B category earlier. The Congress government has made only two persons from among BC as Cabinet Ministers whereas the majority of Ministers in the Modi Cabinet belonged to BCs, he said. The BJP chief also dismissed about the internal fights in the party as a 'family' issue and said the Central leadership is seized of the issue. He would soon constitute a new State committee with 20 persons and 33% posts would be given to women. There is no pressure on him about the new party posts and wanted the aspirants to go to the people and fight on public issues.


The Hindu
29 minutes ago
- The Hindu
Bhagavad Gita's message offers the path to lasting peace, says Governor
Governor Thaawarchand Gehlot on July 25, Friday said the message of the Bhagavad Gita offers the only path to lasting peace in a world increasingly gripped by intolerance and violence. The Governor was speaking after inaugurating Sri Krishna Janmashtami Mandalotsava at the Rajangana of Udupi Sri Krishna Mutt in Udupi, organised by Paryaya Sri Puthige Mutt. The 48-day festival will run from August 1 to September 17. Mr. Geholt said, 'I feel blessed to be in Udupi, a place where devotion, knowledge and service are deeply rooted in the Vedantic tradition.' Hailing Sri Krishna Mutt as an institution nourishing Indian culture and philosophy for the knowledge of people from the world, he said, 'Paryaya Sri Puthige Mutt carries forward the Veda and Vedanta tradition and promotes Sanatana Dharma globally through its branches established by Sri Sugunendra Theertha Swamiji.' The Governor noted Lord Krishna's life offers practical lessons in Dharma Yoga, Karma Yoga and Bhakti Yoga. 'He touches every aspect of life. In the current context of growing intolerance, Lord Krishna's teachings are more relevant than ever,' Mr. Gehlot said. Speaking on Lord Krishna's guidance to Arjuna, Mr. gehlot said the Gita's message of Nishkama Karma-performing one's duty without expectations- should be embraced by all, especially the youth. He also said events like the Mandalotsava not only uphold religious traditions but also promote social harmony and inspire cultural pride. 'Sri Krishna incarnated to protect dharma and eliminate evil. His life continues to guide us towards righteousness, courage and compassion,' he said. Sri Sugunendra Tirtha, his junior Sri Sushrendra Tirtha Swami, MLA Yashpal Suvarna and others were present.