The Congress on Monday asked the Punjab government to explain on what basis was the security of singer Sidhu Moosewala downgraded and demanded an investigation into the murder by either the CBI or the National Investigation Agency under the supervision of a sitting high court judge.

Holding the Bhagwant Mann government responsible for the murder, the Congress also questioned the AAP’s decision to advertise the withdrawal and curtailment of security to over 400 people for publicity. The advertisement put out by the party proudly proclaimed the decision to withdraw security, as their government worked for common people, not VIPs. The Congress also protested in front of Arvind Kejriwal’s residence in Delhi, in addition to taking out candle light marches in Punjab.

While Congress spokesperson Shaktisinh Gohil said the government must make public the assessment of threat perception that led to downgrading of Moosewala’s security, a message posted by the Congress on social media said AAP’s lust for publicity and anarchic tendencies led to the murder of a talented son of Punjab. The party put out details of violent incidents under the nascent AAP regime and insisted that nobody was safe in the state. The party demanded the resignation of the chief minister, alleging that he was remote-controlled by Kejriwal.

The Congress also took strong objection to Moosewala’s character assassination by AAP supporters, arguing that a youth icon was being portrayed as a gangster.

The party has extended full support to Moosewala’s family. Both legislature party leader Pratap Singh Bajwa and state chief Amrinder Singh Raja Brar visited Musa to express solidarity with the family of the singer who had contested Assembly election on Congress ticket.