States » NorthPosted at: Nov 4 2026 6:21PM


Punjab CM should not drink: Rahul Gandhi targets Mann over alleged smell of alcohol, jokes and drug menace

Neeraj Bali
Chandigarh, Nov 4 (UNI) Congress leader Rahul Gandhi, on Wednesday, took a personal swipe at Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann over his alleged alcohol consumption, saying the head of a state battling drug addiction should not indulge in intoxicants, as he accused the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) government of failing to curb narcotics trafficking, gangster violence and corruption.
Addressing Congress's "Insaaf Rally" at Phaguwala village in Mann's home district of Sangrur, Gandhi alleged that during Mann's earlier tenure as a member of Parliament, he had attended proceedings after consuming alcohol and that its smell was noticeable.
Gandhi also referred to Mann's habit of cracking jokes, questioning whether a chief minister could afford to treat serious issues lightly when families across Punjab were suffering because of drug addiction and organised crime.
The allegations concerning Mann's alcohol consumption could not be independently verified.
Gandhi said Punjab required a chief minister who understood the devastating consequences of drug abuse and was personally committed to combating the menace.
"When the Aam Aadmi Party government came to power, people trusted Bhagwant Mann. They promised to eliminate drugs. Tell me, which drugs have disappeared from Punjab?" Gandhi asked.
He said discussions with Punjab Congress leaders ahead of the rally had identified drug addiction as the state's most pressing concern.
The Congress leader accused the Mann government of betraying public trust by failing to fulfil its promises on drugs, law and order and employment.
Turning to organised crime, Gandhi recalled the killing of Punjabi singer and Congress politician Sidhu Moosewala, whose father, Balkaur Singh, was invited onto the stage.
"He was a dynamic and talented young man," Gandhi said, recalling his first meeting with Moosewala before the singer joined Congress.
Gandhi said he had subsequently become concerned about Moosewala's safety after learning that he was receiving threats.
"What happened to Sidhu Moosewala has become a fashion in Punjab," Gandhi said, alleging that shootings, killings and gangster-related violence had become increasingly common.
He also alleged that gangsters were receiving protection inside prisons and accused the government of failing to provide security to ordinary citizens.
Gandhi questioned who was actually running Punjab, alleging that AAP national convener Arvind Kejriwal exercised influence over the state's administration.
"Punjab's government is being run from Delhi," he said.
The Congress leader promised that if his party returned to power in 2027, Punjab would be governed by its elected chief minister rather than political leaders sitting in Delhi.
He also accused the AAP government of failing to honour commitments concerning minimum support prices for farmers and financial assistance for women.
Gandhi said Punjab needed greater investment in agriculture, manufacturing and industry to generate employment and address the economic conditions contributing to drug abuse and gangster activity.
Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge also launched a scathing attack on the Mann government, accusing it of corruption and alleging that money collected in Punjab was being transferred to political leaders in Delhi.
"I have not seen such a corrupt government in my 60 years of political life," Kharge said.
He described AAP as the BJP's "B-team" and urged Congress leaders to unite ahead of the Assembly elections.
Punjab Congress in-charge Sachin Pilot criticised Mann's public speaking style, alleging that the chief minister relied on humour while neglecting serious governance issues.
"The chief minister cracks jokes about everything. He does not understand serious issues," Pilot alleged.
Punjab Congress president Pargat Singh accused the government of turning Punjab into a "police state" and misusing law enforcement agencies against political opponents.
Leader of the Opposition Partap Singh Bajwa called for reopening Punjab's international trade routes to revive economic activity and create employment opportunities.
Former Chief Minister Charanjit Singh Channi alleged that several AAP leaders were preparing to leave the country, without providing evidence to substantiate the claim.
Other Congress leaders, including Amarinder Singh Raja Warring and Sukhjinder Singh Randhawa, raised concerns over drug trafficking and organised crime.
The allegations against Mann and the AAP government were not independently established. Their responses to the specific remarks were not immediately available.
The Sangrur rally marked the formal launch of Congress's campaign for the 2027 Punjab Assembly elections, with the party seeking to challenge AAP in the chief minister's political stronghold.
AAP won 92 of Punjab's 117 Assembly seats in 2022, ending five years of Congress rule. The opposition party is now seeking to make drug abuse, gangster violence, corruption and Punjab's administrative autonomy central issues in its bid to regain power.
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