NEW DELHI: Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Wednesday slammed Punjab chief minister Bhagwant Mann, accusing him of failing to tackle the state's drug problem and alleging that he used to smell of alcohol during their time together in Parliament.Addressing the party's 'Insaaf Rally' in Sangrur, Rahul also accused the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) government of being controlled by leaders in Delhi and questioned its ability to curb drug abuse.Recalling his time in the Lok Sabha with the Punjab CM, Rahul said, “I was in the Lok Sabha with him. He (Punjab CM) used to sit with us and tell jokes, right there, sitting among us. By 11:00 am, you could smell alcohol on his breath.”He clarified that drinking was a personal choice but said the chief minister's conduct was relevant to the state's fight against substance abuse.“Now, I am not saying that Bhagwant Mann shouldn’t drink; that is his personal affair. If he chooses to drink, that is entirely his own business. But if you truly want to fight the menace of substance abuse, your Chief Minister cannot be under…
‘You could smell alcohol on his breath’: Rahul targets Bhagwant Mann over drug menace
In short
Rahul Gandhi claimed that Bhagwant Mann cannot lead a credible anti-drug campaign because he frequently remains under the influence of alcohol. He asserted that the administration in Punjab is puppeted from Delhi by Arvind Kejriwal and Union Home Minister Amit Shah. Gandhi warned that youth unemployment directly drives both illicit drug use and violent gangsterism across the state. In his speech, he also cited his past, dismissed warnings about drugs and challenged Narendra Modi to a debate regarding foreign influence.
Key points
- Economic revitalization through new factories and robust agriculture is necessary to coun…: Economic revitalization through new factories and robust agriculture is necessary to counter Punjab's narcotics and crime problems.
- The Congress leadership alleges that governance in Punjab is being dictated from Delhi by…: The Congress leadership alleges that governance in Punjab is being dictated from Delhi by Arvind Kejriwal and Amit Shah.
- Opposition leaders argue that the Aam Aadmi Party has entirely failed to fulfill its core…: Opposition leaders argue that the Aam Aadmi Party has entirely failed to fulfill its core pledge of eradicating state drug abuse.