Haryana Chief Minister Nayab Singh Saini on Saturday, 13 June launched a scathing attack on the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) government in Punjab, labelling it a 'gang of looters' and asserting that the ruling party's days in power were numbered. Saini made the remarks while addressing an Other Backward Class (OBC) Maha Sammelan in Abohar, Punjab.

BJP's Abohar Win as a Political Signal

Saini pointed to the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)'s decisive victory in the Abohar Municipal Corporation elections as evidence of a shifting political tide in Punjab. He expressed confidence that the BJP would form the next government in the state, describing the local body result as a clear harbinger of change. This comes amid the BJP's broader push to expand its footprint in a state where AAP swept to power in 2022.

Drug Menace and Failed Campaigns

Saini accused the AAP administration of failing to curb Punjab's long-standing drug crisis, dismissing the state government's much-publicised 'Yudh Nashian Virudh' (War Against Drugs) campaign as a complete failure. He alleged that the AAP government was more invested in optics and sloganeering than in delivering tangible results on the ground. He vowed that once the BJP assumed office in Punjab, no individual involved in the drug trade would be spared.

Broken Promises and Political Neglect

The Haryana CM singled out AAP's pledge to provide ₹1,000 per month to women, calling it a 'political gimmick' and noting that even the registration process for the scheme had not yet commenced. He also accused the state government of neglecting Abohar, pointing out that only ₹5 crore had been allocated to the Municipal Corporation — an amount he said was less than what his own government provides to some of its smallest villages in Haryana.

Jobs Record and OBC Rights

Countering Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann's claim of providing 65,000 jobs over more than four years, Saini said the Haryana government had delivered 55,000 jobs to the state's youth in just one year. He also highlighted the Prime Minister Narendra Modi-led government's decision to grant constitutional status to the National Commission for Backwards Classes, calling it a historic step for the OBC community. He further cited the provision of 27 per cent reservation for OBCs in medical and higher education as a measure that had steadily increased OBC representation in universities, engineering institutions, and medical colleges.

What Comes Next

Saini's address at the OBC Maha Sammelan signals an early mobilisation of backward class voters ahead of the Punjab Assembly elections. With the BJP intensifying its outreach in Punjab, the AAP government is likely to face mounting pressure to demonstrate delivery on its key promises — particularly on drugs, employment, and welfare schemes — before the electoral cycle closes in.