No change in 4.5 years: Punjab Congress chief attacks AAP govt over drug issue

Punjab Congress chief Amarinder Singh Raja Warring accused the Bhagwant Mann government of failing to curb drugs and tackle corruption. He sought answers on recent overdose deaths and demanded clarification on allegations involving the Chief Minister's wife and an OSD.From left: Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann and Punjab Congress chief Amarinder Singh Raja Warring. (Photo courtesy: ITG)Punjab Congress chief Amarinder Singh Raja Warring accused the Bhagwant Mann government of failing to control drugs and corruption, and demanded answers over recent overdose deaths and allegations involving the Chief Minister’s wife and an Officer on Special Duty (OSD).WARRING TARGETS MANN OVER DRUG DEATHSWarring on Saturday accused the Bhagwant Mann government of failing to curb the state’s drug problem, alleging that the situation had worsened despite repeated assurances by the government.“Drugs are a big issue in Punjab. And in the past four and a half years, nothing has changed,” Warring said.He said the Punjab government had promised to remove drugs from the state within three months, but claimed that the problem had instead “grown four times”. Targeting Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann, Warring alleged that the government was “sleeping over” the issue and cited seven deaths due to drug overdoses in the Malwa region in the past few days.“I want to ask the CM that if drugs are finished, then why are there deaths?” Warring said, demanding that the Chief Minister explain who was responsible for the deaths. He also questioned the Punjab Director General of Police over the lack of a public response to the recent deaths. Warring alleged that the police leadership had spent heavily on advertisements and publicity but had not commented on the issue.Warring recalled that the DGP had said that if such incidents occurred after May 31, 2025, action would be taken against the concerned SSPs. He demanded to know what action had since been taken and against how many police personnel.“I want to say that the CM himself is responsible for such deaths,” Warring alleged.CORRUPTION ALLEGATIONS AGAINST MANN GOVERNMENTWarring also targeted the Punjab government over corruption, saying it had failed to address the issue.His remarks came in connection with the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) seeking a response from the Punjab DGP and Chief Secretary over allegations that Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann’s wife had demanded Rs 5 crore.Warring said corruption was “on top” in Punjab and alleged that influential people were involved in matters related to postings and transfers.“Corruption in Punjab is happening right under the nose of CM Mann,” he alleged.On a letter purportedly sent by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) to the Punjab DGP regarding an OSD to Chief Minister Mann, Warring said he did not know whether the letter was authentic. However, he said the OSD himself had acknowledged that a letter had been sent to the DGP.Warring said he had regularly seen the ED conduct raids but questioned the reported communication in this case.He alleged that the developments indicated that the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) and the BJP were “together”.Warring demanded that Chief Minister Mann come forward and clarify the allegations himself.RAHUL GANDHI TO VISIT PUNJAB SOONOn Congress leader Rahul Gandhi’s visit to Punjab, Warring said the Congress leader would come to the state “very soon”.Congress MP Amar Singh, meanwhile, said the party wanted to bring out a manifesto that would benefit everyone.He said the party would consult stakeholders from different sectors, including Gen Z and Gen Alpha, and would also “go in the field” as part of the process.WARRING DISTANCES CONGRESS FROM SAJJAN KUMAR REMARKOn the controversy surrounding Congress leader Deepinder Singh Hooda’s reported description of Sajjan Kumar as a “role model”, Warring said the 1984 incidents had affected everyone and that the Congress had always demanded justice for the families affected.“What Deepinder Hooda said could be his personal comments, but they are sentiments of the Warring or Congress party,” he said.Sajjan Kumar, a former Congress leader convicted in a 1984 anti-Sikh riots case, died earlier this year. Warring said he did not want to comment further, adding that “God gives punishment.”- EndsPublished On: Aug 22, 2026 19:58 IST