<p>The gloves are off as <a href="https://www.mid-day.com/news/india-news/article/adulteration-in-mandate-rahul-gandhi-slams-maharashtra-move-to-appoint-nominated-members-in-gokul-dairy-23658607" target="_blank" rel="none noopener">Congress leader and LoP in Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi</a> launched a full-scale attack on Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) leader and Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann.</p>
<p>The AAP has not wiped out the drug menace in Punjab, Gandhi said as he kicked off his party&rsquo;s election campaign. Gandhi also said that in the Lok Sabha, he (Mann) used to crack jokes sitting with us and &ldquo;smells of alcohol by 11 am.&rdquo;</p>
<p>RaGa then said Mann consuming alcohol is a personal matter, but if one wanted to fight drugs, then one cannot have an intoxicated chief minister. Gandhi has also claimed that the AAP is being run from Delhi, as he started campaigning in Punjab ahead of the next year's Assembly elections, where Congress will face AAP.</p>
<h2>Drug fight</h2>
<p>AAP National Spokesperson Advocate Ruben Mascarenhas said, &ldquo;The <a href="https://www.mid-day.com/news/india-news/article/rahul-gandhi-kicks-off-congress-punjab-poll-campaign-flags-drug-menace-and-jobs-crisis-23658540" target="_blank" rel="none noopener">Punjab government has done more than any other government to eliminate the drug problem.</a>&rdquo; Mascarenhas, who is based in Mumbai, countered Gandhi&rsquo;s statement saying, &ldquo;We inherited the drug problem due to institutionalised patronage of previous Congress governments. We are a responsible government and have done what it takes to end the drug menace.&rdquo;</p>
<p><img src="https://images.mid-day.com/images/images/2026/nov/Ruben-Mascarenhas_1793918052_s.jpg" alt="AAP working president, Mumbai, Ruben Mascarenhas. Pic/By Special Arrangement" /><strong><em>AAP working president, Mumbai, Ruben Mascarenhas. Pic/By Special Arrangement</em></strong></p>
<p>&ldquo;We have run the largest rehab programme in India and have quadrupled the number of rehab patients and have launched large-scale youth outreach programmes to eliminate stigma and promote rehab as the solution,&rdquo; he said. Talking numbers, Mascarenhas said, &ldquo;We have taken conviction rates in the NDPS Act from 40 per cent during the previous government to 91 per cent.&rdquo;</p>
<h2>Disarray, dismay</h2>
<p>From tackling drugs to personal observations, AAP said no cheers but jeers to RaGa and the &ldquo;Mann reeking of liquor&rdquo; statement. Mascarenhas hit back, saying, &ldquo;The Congress in Delhi is in disarray. Punjab is led and ruled by Sardar Bhagwant Singh Mann from Punjab. <a href="https://www.mid-day.com/news/india-news/article/rahul-gandhi-to-hold-insaaf-rally-in-punjabs-sangrur-today-23658383" target="_blank" rel="none noopener">Rahul is a non-serious politician and is the reason we have a BJP government for the third term in India</a>. He has zero administrative experience, and none of Congress&rsquo; state governments have delivered on the promises that he makes. While the country is out on the streets, he prioritises vacations.&rdquo; Slam season has started in full swing as RaGa started the bout and AAP countered with their &ldquo;Mann (CM Bhagwant Mann) ki Baat.&rdquo;</p>

Rahul Gandhi targets Punjab CM Bhagwant Mann over the drug menace and alleged alcohol use, prompting AAP to defend its record and hit back at Congress

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Congress leader Rahul Gandhi sparks war of words, stating Punjab Chief Minister smells of liquor by 11 am; AAP calls RaGa a ‘non-serious politician’

AAP defends Punjab government against Rahul Gandhi's drug menace allegations

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