AAP sarpanch in ₹90 crore heroin case: Raja Warring hits Mann govt

Congress MP Amarinder Singh Raja Warring on Thursday accused the Bhagwant Mann government of failing Punjab on drugs. He pointed to party men caught in heroin cases and two people killed after speaking up against the drug trade. He said Rahul Gandhi will put the AAP government’s record before the people on November 4.

Addressing a press conference in Ludhiana, the former Punjab Pradesh Congress Committee (PPCC) chief said Punjab gave Mann a chance to bring change. Nearly five years later, he said, people are still waiting for answers.

The Congress will take its campaign, “Punjab Maange Hisaab” (Punjab demands accounts), to the people on November 4, Warring said.

Drug cases close to AAP

Warring named AAP sarpanch Paramjit Singh, reportedly arrested in a heroin seizure case worth about ₹90 crore. He also cited the reported arrest of the nephew of AAP MLA Sarwan Singh Dhun in a case involving heroin and a drone from Pakistan.

He said Punjab carries almost the entire burden of cross-border drone smuggling in India. Of the country’s 305 drone-linked drug trafficking cases in 2025, 298 were reported from Punjab, he said.

Two deaths raised

Warring spoke of Gulzar Singh, who died after he reportedly faced threats and harassment for questioning Finance Minister Harpal Singh Cheema about drugs.

He also cited Parvinder Singh Jhota, an anti-drug activist from Mansa who was shot dead after confronting a suspected drug supplier.

Warring questioned the government’s claim that it is wiping out drugs. He said people who spoke up were losing their lives, and the government must be held accountable.

Ludhiana second in murders

On law and order, Warring said Ludhiana ranked second among 34 major Indian cities for murder cases in 2024, with 56 killings, according to reports based on NCRB data.

He cited reports that more than 500 gangs are using “ghost gunmen” to carry out shootings in broad daylight. He listed the killings of ASI Harjit Singh, Joga Singh and Iqbal Singh, and said even police personnel are not safe.

Warring also raised the killing of kabaddi players, extortion calls to businessmen and ransom demands made to NRIs. He said the safety of citizens and businesses must come first.

Bribery and transfer racket charges

On corruption, Warring referred to allegations of a ₹5 crore bribe linked to the alleged hushing up of a rape case. He also alleged that a transfer racket was being run from the Chief Minister’s Office.

He listed the Panjiri scam, the paddy procurement scam and the Altus Builders scam, along with controversies involving AAP ministers and MLAs. He demanded transparent probes and action wherever wrongdoing is proved.

Promises still pending

Warring said farmers are still waiting for MSP on 22 crops, as promised. Government employees are still waiting for their pending DA arrears, he said.

On the Bargari sacrilege case, he said justice had not been delivered. He alleged that AAP had given Punjab a “Guru Dokhi” (one who betrays the Guru) chief minister. He also accused the government of censoring Sri Akal Takht, which had raised questions over what he called a poorly thought-out bill. AAP MLAs could not even explain the bill’s language because it was badly drafted, he claimed.

Warring alleged that political advisers from outside Punjab review the state’s affairs every day only to find publicity opportunities, while governance is ignored.

The Congress will seek answers for every unfulfilled promise, every scam and every death, he said.

District presidents Sanjay Talwar and Manraj Thakral, former MLAs Surinder Dabar and Rakesh Pandey, Simarjit Bains, Balwinder Bains, Jagtar Singh Hissowal, Raman Subramaniam, Nirmal Kaira, Nikki Ryat, Malkit Singh Dakha, KK Bawa, Pawan Diwan and Manjit Hambda were present.