NEW DELHI: The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) on Thursday hit back at Congress leader Rahul Gandhi over his criticism of Punjab’s anti-drug drive. It accused the Congress leadership of double standards and alleged that state Congress president was undermining the government’s action against drug traffickers.In a post on X, AAP questioned Gandhi’s stance on the crackdown, writing, “Rahul Gandhi Ji, in Punjab, the Mann government is taking strict action against drug traffickers, but your own state president Paragat Singh is standing in support of the drug traffickers. Can’t you see this, or are you deliberately turning a blind eye?”The party further challenged Gandhi to clarify whether his state unit supported the campaign against drugs, adding, “Before lecturing on the issue of drugs in Punjab, get your own party in order. At least ask your president whether he stands with the action against drugs or with the drug traffickers?”The exchange comes amid a political row over the killing of anti-drug activist Parminder Singh Jhota in Mansa. Rahul Gandhi had criticised the Bhagwant Mann-led government following the incident, saying that raising one’s voice against drug abuse in Punjab had become “a death sentence”.Jhota was allegedly shot by a medical shop owner and later succumbed to his injuries. The killing triggered protests and a statewide bandh on Thursday, with organisations demanding accountability over the state’s law-and-order situation and its anti-drug campaign.Punjab Police, in a joint operation with Rajasthan Police, arrested the alleged main shooter, Asvini, in Salasar, Rajasthan, officials said on Wednesday. The district administration subsequently demolished the accused’s residence amid heavy security deployment.
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Meanwhile, Punjab Congress president Pargat Singh criticised the authorities’ handling of the bandh in a post on X, writing, “Today, Punjab is back on the streets against drugs. The Punjab bandh is not just a protest, but a clear declaration of the trust that has been shattered by the government and police administration.”He also alleged that peaceful protesters were being arrested in Jalandhar and other constituencies, calling the reported action “absolutely unacceptable in a democracy”.Singh warned chief minister Bhagwant Mann and Punjab Police chief Gaurav Yadav against suppressing protesters, adding that no action in Mansa should be taken without the family’s consent.