Rahul Gandhi alleges Punjab CM Bhagwant Mann smelled of alcohol in Lok Sabha
The Congress leader questioned the AAP government's ability to fight drugs while making personal remarks about the Chief Minister in Sangrur.
Congress MP and Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi accused Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann of consuming alcohol regularly during an 'Insaaf Rally' in Sangrur on Wednesday, November 4. According to India Today, Gandhi claimed he noticed the smell of alcohol on Mann during a parliamentary sitting at approximately 11 am.
Addressing the rally, Gandhi said that while drinking is a personal matter, a Chief Minister cannot be under the influence every evening if they intend to fight the drug menace in the state. He questioned the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) government on its promise to eradicate drugs from Punjab, asking where the substance had actually been removed.
The Congress leader suggested that the rise in gangsterism and drug use is linked to a lack of industrial development and employment opportunities in Punjab. He stated that the state requires a government that understands the pain of those affected by addiction and focuses on creating jobs.
Gandhi also mentioned the 2022 killing of singer Sidhu Moosewala, noting that the singer's security was withdrawn before he was shot. He also accused the AAP government of being controlled by leadership in Delhi, specifically Arvind Kejriwal, rather than being run independently by Mann.
The AAP responded by calling the rally 'directionless' and accusing Gandhi of failing to provide a roadmap for Punjab's development. The party described the Congress as a 'fragmented political organisation' with declining electoral relevance across the country.