Opposition puts pressure on AAP after fake alcohol death

Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann met the family of the victim who died after consuming mixed drinking in Amritsar. File (x/@bhagwantmann)

The ruling AAM AADMI Party (AAP) government in Punjab faces intensified criticism after 27 deaths on Friday (May 16, 2025). Aside from embarrassment, Kunwar Vijay Pratap Singh, one of its own MLAs, publicly criticized the government, accusing various “mafia” under its surveillance of thriving.

IPS officials from Amritsar’s northern constituency and Kunwar Vijay Pratap Singh of AAP MLA conducted a sharp excavation in his party leadership while addressing the media in the Bhangali village of Amritsar. He refers to a tragedy in 2020 when 120 people died during the Congress regime, he said: “At that time, Mr. Bagwant Mann demanded a murder against then-Chief Minister Captain Amalind Singh. Now, this is your government – live up to your remarks and acted to act against guilt. Our government is a failure.

The opposition seized the MLA’s comments to strengthen the attack on the AAP government. Partap Singh Bajwa, leader of the Punjab Congressional opposition, said Kunwar Pratap once again exposed the hollow claims of the AAP government. He said: “The alcoholic mafia is part of the government and has held shows.

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MP Gurjeet Singh Aujla criticized the government’s “drug war” campaign, noting that “the Punjab government has nothing to do with ground reality, otherwise this tragedy would not have happened.” He demanded that the chief minister take full responsibility for the death and called for a high committee, supervised by a current high court judge, to investigate the deaths related to drugs and alcohol overseen by a current high court judge, and to remove the network behind it.

BJP leader and state minister for railway and food processing in union Ravneet Singh Bittu said Kunwar Pratap’s revelation exposed the government’s asylum for criminals and drug smugglers.

Meanwhile, AAP Supreme and former Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal and CM Bhagwant Mann initiated Nasha Mukti Yatra (Drug-free parade) in Shaheed Bhagat Singh Nagar district. Speaking in Langroya, Kejriwal asserted that the government “cracked the backbone of drugs” in Punjab and expressed optimism that the state will soon be lifted from the threat.