Congress politician Rahul Gandhi Wednesday launched an all-out attack against Punjab CM Bhagwant Mann, accusing his AAP govt of abject failure in dealing with gangsterism and drug menace in the state while mocking that the problems cannot be eradicated by a CM “who drinks every evening”.Mann, as an MP, used to come to Lok Sabha “reeking of alcohol at 11am and spent his time telling jokes”, claimed Rahul.“Where has AAP ended the problem of nasha? Which corner of state has AAP ended it. They can’t do it,” he said as Congress launched its campaign for the upcoming Punjab polls with the entire state brass of Sachin Pilot, Pargat Singh, Partap Bajwa, Charanjit Channi, Raja Warring, Vijay Inder Singla on the ‘Insaaf Rally’ stage.At the same time, Rahul targeted BJP, alleging Union home minister Amit Shah “patronises criminals in jails” and reiterating his challenge to PM Narendra Modi for an open debate on issues such as the India-US trade deal.In an evident bid to stoke “Punjabi pride”, Rahul, who accompanied Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge to the well-attended rally on the CM’s home turf, said Mann is a CM only in name while Punjab govt is run from Delhi by Arvind Kejriwal.“Half of Mann’s reins are with Shah, half with Kejriwal,” he said. Rahul asserted a Congress govt in Punjab will be run from Punjab.As Kharge led chants of “Jai Punjab” with a responsive crowd, he and Rahul presented a sort of manifesto for the state.
‘Can’t trust Shah, PM controlled by Trump’: Rahul steps up attack on BJP
Rahul said, “Everyone has to understand one thing – this state will have factories, industry, agriculture. Else, there will be nasha and gangsterism. There will be bullets on the streets.”The rampant, brazen shootings across Punjab were spotlighted with the rather dramatic entry on the stage of the father of Punjabi singer Sidhu Moose Wala, who was killed after AAP govt took over in 2022.
Rahul Gandhi with Balkaur Singh, father of late singer Sidhu Moose Wala, during the ‘Insaaf Rally’ in Sangrur
Rahul hugged Balkaur Moose Wala and then started his speech by recalling his first meeting with “talented” Sidhu when he joined Congress ahead of 2022 state polls. Rahul said Sidhu was killed after his security was withdrawn.In his attack on BJP, Rahul alleged Shah assertions about ending gangsterism and drug menace in Punjab cannot be trusted, as he claimed nothing was done about large quantities of drugs that landed in “Adani’s port” in Gujarat.
Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge and Leader of Opposition in Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi interact with families affected by drug abuse and violence during the party’s ‘Insaaf Rally’ in Sangrur on Wednesday
He said Modi is “controlled” by US President Donald Trump because of which he gave away interests of farmers and small industries in the India-US deal. Rahul called PM a “traitor”.Rahul’s attack was designed to discredit the governing party at the Centre over its claims of addressing key ills of Punjab, drugs, law and order, and agricultural crisis.Underlining he has challenged PM to a debate, Rahul said, “I guarantee that in five minutes, I will prove Modi is a traitor and he is controlled by Trump.”He claimed Modi signed deal in “five minutes” without informing the cabinet or any officer.
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