Rahul Gandhi accuses AAP of failing to tackle Punjab’s drug menace

Congress leader Rahul Gandhi has accused the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) government of failing to tackle Punjab’s drug problem, making the spread of ‘chitta’ a central issue at an ‘Insaf Rally’ in Sangrur on Wednesday.

Addressing the gathering, the Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha questioned the Bhagwant Mann government over its failure to fulfil the party’s promise of making Punjab drug-free.

The drug menace has become a major political issue in Punjab, with both the Congress and the BJP targeting the AAP government over its handling of narcotics. Both opposition parties have sought to make the issue a central part of their campaigns, accusing the ruling party of failing to deliver on its promise to rid the state of drugs.

The choice of Sangrur for the rally is also politically significant. Located in the Malwa region, the area is part of Punjab’s largest political belt which accounts for 69 of the state’s 117 Assembly seats. The Congress is seeking to strengthen its position in the region ahead of the next Assembly elections.

“The Aam Aadmi Party came to power, and you placed your trust in it. Punjab trusted Bhagwant Mann and the Aam Aadmi Party. What was their promise? That they would eradicate drug abuse. I want to ask you, where have they eradicated drugs? From which part of Punjab have they managed to eliminate the drug menace? They cannot eradicate drugs,” Gandhi said.

He also alleged that Mann used to smell of alcohol during his time in Parliament, recalling their interactions in the Lok Sabha.

Gandhi said that while consuming alcohol was a personal choice, a Chief Minister leading a campaign against substance abuse should not himself be under the influence of intoxicants.

“I am not saying that Bhagwant Mann should not consume alcohol. That is his personal matter. If he wants to drink, it is his personal choice. But, if you want to fight drug abuse, your Chief Minister cannot be under the influence of intoxicants every evening,” he said.

During the rally, Gandhi also invited the father of slain Punjabi singer Sidhu Moose Wala onto the stage and recalled his first meeting with the singer before he joined the Congress.

Gandhi said he had met Moose Wala at his office a few years ago but knew little about his music at the time.

“A few years ago, I met his son at my office. At that time, I did not know Sidhu Moose Wala. I was meeting him for the first time and did not know much about him. He was an impressive young man. He walked into the room with tattoos. I had not heard his songs or even his voice at that time. I was only told that he was a good person, a musician, and wanted to join the Congress party,” he recalled.

Gandhi described Moose Wala as a talented and dynamic young man and said he had decided to induct him into the Congress after their meeting.

He also recalled having a sense that the singer was entering a challenging political environment and that he wanted to support him.

“During our meeting, a thought suddenly crossed my mind, though nobody had told me anything about it. I felt that he was entering a dangerous field. I don’t know why I got that feeling. He was a singer, a dynamic young man, and someone who did not understand politics very well. I felt I should protect him in my own way,” Gandhi said.

He clarified that he was referring to political support rather than physical security, adding that he wanted the singer to feel comfortable in the party.

The rally placed the drug crisis at the centre of the Congress’s challenge to the AAP government, as the party seeks to regain political ground in Punjab.