JAMMU, Oct 21: Senior BJP leader and former Minister Bali Bhagat launched a sharp attack on Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann and the AAP government, questioning its handling of the drug crisis, employee unrest and public safety, and accusing it of allowing political controversies to overshadow the urgent problems confronting Punjab.
“Punjab was promised a transformation, but the government must now answer for its performance. Employees are protesting, the drug menace continues to threaten young lives, and serious concerns over public safety demand urgent attention. The people of Punjab need accountable governance, not political excuses and publicity campaigns,” Bhagat said in the proposed statement.
Referring to the killing of anti-drug activist Parvinder Singh Jhota in Mansa, Bhagat said the case had intensified concerns about the safety of those confronting alleged drug trafficking. With the CBI taking over the investigation, he demanded a thorough, impartial probe, protection for witnesses and accountability wherever lapses are established.
“When a person who raises concerns about drugs is shot dead, the government cannot afford complacency. The entire network behind drug trafficking must be investigated, guilty persons must face the law, and families affected by addiction must receive meaningful support. The Mann government must demonstrate tangible results rather than rely on announcements,” he said.
Bhagat also questioned the Punjab government over reports of large-scale employee participation in the October 20–21 mass-leave agitation over pending dearness allowance arrears, the Old Pension Scheme and other service demands.
“Government employees cannot live on assurances, and pensioners cannot plan their future on slogans. Mann must explain why these grievances remain unresolved and present a clear, time-bound roadmap for addressing them. A government that makes promises must also accept responsibility for fulfilling them,” he said.
Taking aim at Mann and AAP convenor Arvind Kejriwal, Bhagat questioned the government’s priorities amid the controversy surrounding Mann’s Paris visit and the reported ₹50,000 customs challan at Delhi airport. He called for transparency regarding the visit’s expenditure, trade outcomes and benefits to Punjab.
“If AAP alleges political interference, it must substantiate that allegation with evidence. Equally, the circumstances surrounding the reported customs action should be clarified through the appropriate authorities. But no airport controversy can substitute for answers on drugs, employment, employee grievances and public safety,” Bhagat said.
Calling for a tougher crackdown on organised drug trafficking, Bhagat urged Punjab to study Uttar Pradesh’s reported “Operation Langda” model and anti-mafia enforcement measures. He advocated intelligence-led operations against traffickers, financiers and suppliers, alongside lawful seizure of illicit assets and action against illegally constructed properties linked to proven criminal activity, subject to due process.
“Punjab needs a decisive war against the drug mafia, not another round of political slogans. Dismantle the supply networks, protect our youth, strengthen rehabilitation and hold offenders accountable. Implement an effective anti-mafia strategy in Punjab and establish a model that other states can learn from,” he said.
Concluding, Bhagat said the Mann government must be judged by measurable results rather than political messaging.
“Punjab needs jobs, safer communities, accountable public services and freedom from the drug menace. Mann and Kejriwal must answer the people’s questions. Governance is about delivering on promises—not escaping scrutiny when those promises are questioned,” he said in the proposed statement.