Minister Dhaliwal slams BJP leader, accuses his party of hyprocrisy

Punjab Minister Kuldeep Singh Dhaliwal launched a scathing attack on BJP National general secretary Tarun Chugh, accusing the BJP of hypocrisy and complicity in the state’s drug menace.

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Responding to Chugh’s remarks and those of BJP spokesperson Joshi, Dhaliwal stated that drugs and ‘gangsterism’ proliferated in Punjab during the the BJP-SAD regime.

“Everyone knows the era of drugs in the state began under the SAD-BJP government. What was BJP’s stance when drugs started flooding Punjab? Why didn’t BJP leaders speak up then,” Dhaliwal questioned.

The minister pointed out that senior Akali leaders, who were BJP allies, faced accusations of drug smuggling nut the BJP chose to remain silent.

He asked: “Chugh, how do you defend your party’s silence when a prominent SAD leader was jailed for smuggling? Why didn’t the BJP act against its ally’s involvement in such crimes?”

Dhaliwal also criticised Capt Amarinder Singh, now a BJP leader, for failing to fulfil his 2017 promise of eradicating drugs in the state.

Highlighting the AAP government’s accomplishments, Dhaliwal said: “Under the ‘Yudh Nashian Virudh’ campaign launched on March 1, our government has arrested over 14,500 smugglers, registered 8,600 FIRs, and seized 594 kg of heroin. We have demolished drug smugglers’ illegal properties and put them behind bars. The campaign has become a mass movement, with people across villages, towns and cities taking oaths to fight drugs.

”Dhaliwal accused the BJP of being anti-Punjab, highlighting the party’s attempts to usurp state’s resources. He cited examples such as the deployment of the CISF at Nangal Dam, which he called an attempt to seize Punjab’s water resources and the withholding of funds by the Central Government.

“The BJP wants to weaken the state, steal our water and deny us our rightful funds. Chugh must answer, is he standing with the state or with the BJP and its Haryana and central units, which are trying to rob Punjab of its rights,” he said.