Drugs Moosewala alcohol jab at Mann dominate Rahul's stinging attack on AAP at Punjab rally

    Sangrur, Nov 4 (PTI) Chitta, Siddhu Moosewala and allegations that Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann reeked of alcohol in Parliament… Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Wednesday launched an all-out attack against Punjab’s ruling Aam Aadmi Party as he kicked off his party’s election campaign.

    Addressing an ‘Insaaf Rally’ here, the leader of the opposition in the Lok Sabha also reiterated his challenge to Prime Minister Narendra Modi for an open debate on the latter’s charge that Congress is anti-national.

    “Come anywhere, sit with me and debate,” he said.

    Invoking slain singer Sidhu Moosewala, Gandhi targeted the Mann government over the “deteriorating” law and order in Punjab, saying what happened to the popular artiste has become a “fashion” today.

    “One thing you must understand, drugs and gangsterism will continue to flourish in Punjab if there is no industry, factories, farming, etc. Bullets will fly on the streets in that case,” Gandhi said at Mann’s home district.

    He then told the gathering that he would narrate a story about their chief minister.

    “In Lok Sabha, he (Mann) used to crack jokes sitting with us. At 11 am, he used to smell of alcohol. I am not saying Bhagwant Mann should not consume alcohol; it is his personal matter. But if you want to fight drugs, the chief minister can’t get intoxicated every evening,” he said.

    “Punjab needs a man who can fight for its cause, someone who feels the pain of drug addiction in his heart,” he added.

    Recalling that he had said many years back that the drug menace is spreading in Punjab, the Congress leader said, “The BJP and the Akali Dal at that time said Rahul Gandhi does not know anything about Punjab, downplaying the drug menace. Today, ‘chitta' (adulterated heroin) is a major issue in the state.”

    Gandhi said when he asked people what the biggest issue facing Punjab today is, the reply was unanimous – “narcotics, including ‘chitta’, synthetic drugs and medical drugs”.

    “The AAP formed the government after people placed their trust in the party and Bhagwant Mann. What promise did it make? That it will end the drug menace in Punjab. I want to ask the AAP, from which corner of the state has it wiped out drugs?” Gandhi said.

    The Congress leader also said that people deserve a government that works for Punjab, not like AAP, which is “run from Delhi”.

    “We will run the government from the soil of Punjab, with neither the home minister nor a former chief minister of Delhi interfering,” Gandhi said.

    “Today, the reins (of the government) are held by Amit Shah and Arvind Kejriwal, while Bhagwant Mann just sits there,” Gandhi alleged, urging the crowd to vote for Congress for jobs and a drugs-free Punjab.

    Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge, its Punjab in-charge Sachin Pilot, state Congress chief Pargat Singh, and senior state leaders Partap Bajwa, Vijay Inder Singla, Charanjit Singh Channi, Sukhjinder Singh Randhawa, Rajinder Kaur Bhattal and Amrinder Singh Raja Warring were present at the rally.

    Referring to slain singer Moosewala's father Balkaur Singh walking up to him for a chat before his address, Gandhi said, “I had a plan for my speech; but a few minutes back, Sidhu Moosewala's father came and met me, so I am changing the plan.”

    He then recalled his meeting with Moosewala years back, when he did not know much about the singer.

    “A few years ago, I met Sidhu Moosewala when he had come to see me in my office. I did not know him at the time. He came across as an impressive young man. He had a tattoo. I had not listened to his songs then.

    “I was told that he was a good person, a musician, and wanted to join the Congress. He was a dynamic, talented young man and we made him join the party,” Gandhi said.

    “I felt that he ought to be made to feel comfortable as he was a newcomer to politics. He was probably Punjab's most talented singer, who could also one day make a mark in politics,” Gandhi said.

    Shubhdeep Singh Sidhu, popular as Sidhu Moosewala, was shot dead in Punjab's Mansa district on May 29, 2022.

    “Punjab's voice used to come out in his songs, which I listened to later,” the Congress leader said.

    “But his security was removed. And one day he was killed in broad daylight,” he said.

    When he visited Moosewala's residence later, his father told him that there cannot be a greater pain than seeing the death of one's son, Gandhi said.

    “What happened to his son (Moosewala) has become a fashion today,” Gandhi claimed.

    “The mindset behind shooting Moosewala in front of everyone without any fear is the same that is prevalent in every corner of Punjab today. Those who want to take the state forward are being silenced,” he claimed.

    Targeting Amit Shah for setting a deadline of December 31, 2029, to eliminate the drug menace and dismantle illegal drug trade across India, Gandhi claimed Shah will not even remain the home minister after three years.

    “I don't know what he is talking about. My assessment is that the Central government will be wrapped up within a year,” he said.

    Attacking Shah, Gandhi asked, “What happened to the drugs seized at Adani's port in Gujarat? What did you do with the thousands of kilograms of drugs?

    “The whole country knows that Amit Shah has raised his own gangsters in jails. So he better not talk about drugs, or law and order,” he said.

    He added that if Shah really wants to talk about law and order, he should tell the country what is happening in Manipur.

    “Tell the country that your prime minister cannot go to Manipur because of the law and order situation there,” he said.

    Calling out the AAP over its poll promises, Gandhi said Mann made tall promises on guaranteeing MSP, cash transfers to women, and checking drugs.

    “I want to ask you – which of these promises did it fulfil? The drug problem is in front of you. Whom did the cash transfers benefit? The government is run from Delhi, and only long speeches are delivered here," he said.

    Recalling the time when the Congress was in power in Punjab, Gandhi said, “There were many small and medium industries in the state at that time, which can only be revived if the Congress form the government.”

    Claiming that the true face of the BJP is there for everyone to see, Gandhi said, “Your own farmers were on the road against the farm laws brought by the Centre. Together with the Congress, they threw away the laws into the bin.”

    “Punjab needs a Congress government, one that can fight drugs, create jobs, strengthen small and medium industries, and stand with the farmers 24x7,” Gandhi said.

(This story has not been edited by THE WEEK and is auto-generated from PTI)