New Delhi: BJP National General Secretary Tarun Chugh, addressing a press conference at the BJP headquarters in Delhi, launched a sharp attack on the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) government in Punjab, alleging widespread misuse of government machinery and accusing the state government of failing on the fronts of law and order, economy, education, drug control and governance.
Chugh said the AAP government in Punjab has become a major example of the misuse of government machinery, alleging that those who were supposed to be protectors have instead become “predators” and are damaging Punjab’s economy, peace and assets. He alleged that Punjab’s natural resources are being exploited through illegal mining, particularly along the Ravi River, Chak Dariya in Pathankot, and areas of Anandpur Sahib, Hoshiarpur and Ropar. He also alleged that illegal mining is taking place openly in the Anandpur Sahib–Ropar region.
Chugh further alleged that paper leaks are taking place repeatedly in Punjab, leaving students fearful, while the law-and-order situation has deteriorated. He claimed that extortion, recovery and torture centres have created an atmosphere of fear across the state. According to him, people who raise their voices are beaten or assaulted, while caste-based remarks are allegedly made publicly against them. He also alleged that sanitation workers and women protesting peacefully on the streets are treated rudely.
Targeting the state police, Chugh alleged that the police is being used to suppress the public instead of providing security. He said that various ongoing movements, including the sanitation workers’ movement, recruitment scam movement and farmers’ movement, were allegedly being dealt with through police action rather than dialogue with protesters.
Chugh also alleged that an “undeclared censorship” is operating in Punjab. He claimed that decisions about what newspapers should publish, what should be printed and what television channels should show are being influenced by the office of Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann.
Referring to Vaibhav Kumar, Chugh alleged that the former Delhi Chief Minister’s aide, who was accused of assaulting AAP Rajya Sabha MP Swati Maliwal at the Delhi Chief Minister’s residence, is now allegedly operating a “parallel censor board” in Punjab. Chugh claimed that newspapers are being intimidated and threatened to prevent reports concerning “Sheesh Mahal” from being published. He further alleged that major newspapers and news agencies are being subjected to pressure and conditions under the pretext of checks to prevent the publication of stories related to “Sheesh Mahal 2.”
On the economic front, Chugh referred to the promises made by Arvind Kejriwal regarding Punjab’s resources. He said Kejriwal had promoted schemes with claims that ₹1 lakh crore would be generated in five years and used for health and education. However, Chugh alleged that Punjab had not even received ₹800–900 crore through these initiatives.
Citing the National Crime Records Bureau’s Crime in India 2024 report, Chugh said Punjab recorded 6,060 cases involving possession of narcotic drugs and psychotropic substances, which he described as the highest number among all states in India. He further claimed that 89 youths died from drug overdoses in 2023, while 1,061 children died in Punjab in 2024. He also cited 1,356 snatching incidents and alleged that 1,079 murders took place in Punjab in 2024, claiming that the figure was even higher during 2025–26.
Chugh also accused the Punjab government of using state resources for the political activities and visits of Arvind Kejriwal and Manish Sisodia. He alleged that the Punjab government’s helicopter is being used to facilitate Kejriwal’s travel and welcome, while the state government allegedly claims to have insufficient funds for widow pensions, old-age pensions, school repairs and road maintenance in cities.
He further alleged that government employees were misled into giving up their pension benefits and that the Supreme Court has now directed that their dues be paid. Chugh questioned the government’s priorities, alleging that there is money available for posters and publicity, but not for paying pensioners their legitimate dues. He also raised concerns over alleged atrocities against Dalits in Punjab, which he described as particularly serious given the state’s large Dalit population.
Chugh claimed that during the past four and a half years, the AAP government had pushed Punjab into a “deep pit” and alleged that the state’s debt has reached nearly ₹5 lakh crore. He said the government has no clear plan and claimed that people across Punjab—including young people, workers, different sectors, villages and neighbourhoods—are unhappy with what he described as an “inexperienced, incompetent, useless, mafia-controlled government”.
On the issue of examination irregularities, Chugh alleged that the latest paper leak is not the first such incident in Punjab but the sixth in four years. He again cited the NCRB Crime in India 2024 report, reiterating the figure of 6,060 cases involving possession of narcotic drugs and psychotropic substances, which he said was the highest among Indian states.
Chugh also questioned the credibility of the state government’s anti-drug campaign, saying that political leaders should first demonstrate that they themselves are drug-free before asking the public, particularly young people, to stay away from drugs. He argued that if the top leadership itself is allegedly involved with drugs or intoxication, it would set a poor example for the people of Punjab.
Chugh’s remarks were sharply critical of the AAP government and covered a wide range of issues, including illegal mining, paper leaks, law and order, drug-related cases, media freedom, government spending, pensions, Dalit issues, public debt and the functioning of the state administration.