Addressing the 'Insaaf Rally' in Sangrur, Rahul Gandhi said the AAP government had come to power promising to eradicate drugs from Punjab but had failed to deliver on that commitment. He questioned what action the government had taken and challenged it to identify any part of the state where the drug problem had been eliminated.
"The Aam Aadmi Party came to power, and you trusted them, Bhagwant Mann and the Aam Aadmi Party. They had promised that they would eliminate the drug problem. I ask you, where have they eliminated it? In which corner of Punjab have they managed to remove drugs? They have simply failed to eliminate this problem," Gandhi said.
Targeting Union Home Minister Amit Shah over his promise to eliminate the drug problem within three years, Gandhi questioned the proposed timeline and predicted that the BJP government at the Centre would not last another year.
"What timeline has he (Union Home Minister Amit Shah) set for the drug problem? Within three years? In three years, Amit Shah will not even remain the Home Minister. My estimate is that this government will not last even a year. Anyway, Amit Shah claims that he will eliminate the drug problem within three years," Gandhi said.
Rahul Gandhi Recalls Meeting With Sidhu Moose Wala
During his address at the Congress's Insaaf Rally in Sangrur, Rahul Gandhi also recalled his meeting with slain Punjabi singer Sidhu Moose Wala. He said the mindset responsible for Moose Wala's killing was now spreading across every corner of Punjab.
Gandhi said he changed his prepared speech after Moose Wala's father greeted him and later invited him onto the stage.
"What happened to his son has now become a fashion in Punjab. The mindset that shot Sidhu Moose Wala in front of everyone, without any fear, is now roaming across every corner of Punjab," Gandhi said.
He alleged that people with talent and skills who wanted to make their mark through their abilities and work for Punjab and the country were being threatened, intimidated and eventually shot dead in public.
"Anyone who has talent, anyone who has skills, like Sidhu, who wants to move forward on the strength of his talent and work for Punjab and the country, is threatened and intimidated, and then shot dead in front of everyone," he said.
Gandhi Says He Feared Moose Wala Was Entering a Dangerous World
Rahul Gandhi recalled meeting Sidhu Moose Wala years ago when the singer had visited his office to join the Congress party.
Gandhi said he did not know who Moose Wala was at the time and had not listened to his songs. However, he described him as an impressive and talented individual who had the potential to make a mark.
"At that time, I did not know who Sidhu Moose Wala was. He was an impressive man. He came into the room. He had tattoos on his body. I had not listened to his songs at that time. I was only told that he was a good man. He was a talented man. I got him to join," Gandhi said.
He added that he felt Moose Wala was entering a dangerous environment without fully understanding the risks associated with politics.
"I had this feeling that he was entering a dangerous place. I thought he was coming into politics. He was a singer, dynamic and full of potential. He did not understand politics that well. So I felt that I should somehow protect him in my own way. Not physically, but politically," Gandhi said.
Rahul Gandhi Recalls Threats and Killing of Sidhu Moose Wala
Recalling the events leading up to Moose Wala's murder, Gandhi said the singer began receiving threats despite being among Punjab's most talented musicians.
He also referred to the removal of Moose Wala's security before the killing, saying the singer was shot dead in broad daylight in Punjab in front of the public.
"Then he started receiving threats. Perhaps one of the most talented musicians in Punjab. One day, I saw that his security was removed in front of everyone. In front of Punjab, in front of India, he was killed in a black SUV, in broad daylight, in Punjab," Gandhi said.
Through his address, Rahul Gandhi raised questions over the AAP government's handling of Punjab's drug crisis and highlighted the issue of threats and violence against talented individuals while recalling the killing of Sidhu Moose Wala.
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