Punjab Assembly Election: With just a few months remaining in the Punjab assembly election, all the leading political parties have intensified their campaign. While the core issue remains agriculture, job creation, and drug, personal attacks have also taken a centre stage recently. Rahul Gandhi, Leader of Opposition in Lok Sabha, while addressing a crowd in Sangrur, accused Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann of frequent consumption of alcohol. Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) leader Saurabh Bhardwaj later criticized Gandhi, claiming that similar allegations have been made against the Congress senior leader.

Rahul Gandhi Slams CM Mann

While addressing crowd in Sangrur, stronghold of AAP and Bhagwant Mann, Gandhi alleged that during his days as an MP, Mann used to tell jokes to the fellow parliamentarians. However, he further claimed that the MPs could smell alcohol from his breath by 11 am.

The Congress leader recalled those days while highlighting the drug issue. "I was in the Lok Sabha with him. He (Mann) used to sit with us and tell jokes, right there, sitting among us. By 11 am, you could smell alcohol on his breath," Rahul Gandhi stated in his 'Insaaf Rally'.

He further stated that while drinking alcohol is one's personal decision, a chief minister cannot fight the drug crisis while being intoxicated on a daily basis. "Now, I am not saying that Bhagwant Mann shouldn't drink. This is his personal affair. If he chooses to drink, that is entirely his own business. But if you truly want to fight the menace of substance abuse, your chief minister cannot be under the influence every single evening," the Congress leader added.

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AAP Fires Back

Soon after Gandhi made these allegations, AAP leader Saurabh Bhardwaj claimed that similar allegations have been made against the Congress leader previously. Bhardwaj further stated that without sufficient proof, such allegations should not be made, especially by senior leaders.

"Allegations of drug use have also been made against Rahul Gandhi. But making accusations doesn't achieve anything. I feel that at Rahul Gandhi's level, he really shouldn't be making such cheap comments," Bhardwaj was quoted as saying by news agency ANI.

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