Rahul Gandhi alleges Punjab CM smelled of alcohol in Parliament
The Congress leader accused Bhagwant Mann of failing to tackle the drug menace and claimed the state is being run from Delhi.
Addressing an 'Insaaf rally' in Sangrur on Wednesday, Lok Sabha Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi accused Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann of failing to curb drug abuse in the state. According to The New Indian Express, Gandhi also alleged that Mann would arrive in Parliament with the smell of alcohol on his breath.
Gandhi recalled his time in the Lok Sabha with Mann, stating that by 11 am, the Chief Minister's breath could smell of alcohol. While clarifying that drinking is a personal matter, Gandhi questioned how a leader could effectively fight substance abuse if he is under the influence every evening.
The Congress leader further alleged that the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) government is being controlled from Delhi. He claimed that while Mann governs, the reins are held by leaders in Delhi, including Arvind Kejriwal and Union Home Minister Amit Shah.
Gandhi questioned the AAP's promise to eradicate drugs, asking which part of Punjab had seen the menace eliminated. He noted that 'chitta' remains a major issue and linked the rise in drug use and gangsterism to a lack of industrial activity and employment opportunities.
During the rally, Gandhi also spoke about the late singer Sidhu Moosewala and his father, Balkaur Singh. He described the singer as a talented man and noted that the circumstances surrounding Moosewala's death had become a disturbing trend in Punjab.
Punjab Congress president Pargat Singh described the state as a "police state," while former chief minister Charanjit Singh Channi also targeted Mann, calling him a "Nitt da sharaabi".