Punjab Congress on Sunday, 13 September launched a sharp offensive against the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) government in Punjab, alleging that the ruling party is deliberately misleading the public on the drug menace, systematically targeting weaker sections, and shielding powerful individuals implicated in serious crimes.

Key Allegations Against AAP Government

State Congress president Amarinder Singh Raja Warring welcomed Rajendra Pal Gautam, Chairman of the Central Scheduled Castes Department, and thanked Rajkumar Verka and Gurpreet Singh Lucky Pakho for their efforts in fighting for the rights of marginalised communities. Warring alleged that under the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) at the Centre and the AAP government in Punjab, poor Dalit families are falling victim to administrative apathy and targeted exploitation.

Gulzar Singh Suicide: Finance Minister Named in Dying Declaration

Congress leaders raised the case of the tragic suicide of Gulzar Singh, expressing that Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi has conveyed concern over the incident. According to the Congress leaders, Gulzar Singh's only fault was speaking out against the open sale of narcotics in his village and trying to protect his son from drugs. Rather than acting against drug traffickers, the administration allegedly subjected him to relentless harassment, which the party claims ultimately drove him to take his own life.

Notably, Congress leaders pointed out that Punjab's Finance Minister has been explicitly named in Gulzar Singh's dying declaration, yet no legal action or accountability has followed. The victim's family, they said, continues to seek justice without resolution.

Police Torture Allegation: Mohanjeet Singh's Case

The party also raised the case of Mohanjeet Singh, who, according to Congress, was subjected to brutal police torture merely for displaying black flags during a peaceful democratic protest. Congress leaders cited this incident as evidence of what they described as an authoritarian pattern under AAP governance in Punjab.

AAP's Drug Promise vs Punjab Ground Reality

Rajendra Pal Gautam directly targeted AAP, noting that the party came to power in 2022 on an explicit promise to eradicate drugs and overhaul traditional politics within months. He argued that during its tenure governing Delhi, AAP had deflected accountability on law and order by citing the absence of full statehood. In Punjab, however, AAP holds full control over the police — yet the drug trade has reportedly spiralled out of control, with narcotics reportedly circulating even inside the state's jails.

Gautam questioned how drugs could penetrate every village and operate openly within jails without direct political and administrative patronage, a charge the AAP government has not yet publicly addressed. This comes amid a broader national debate on the Punjab drug crisis, which has remained one of the state's most persistent and politically charged challenges across successive governments.