AAP counters Rahul Gandhi's attack, cites 1984 riots

The war of words between Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann and Congress leader Rahul Gandhi has intensified. The dispute is no longer limited to personal allegations but has escalated to serious issues such as Sikh identity and the 1984 anti-Sikh riots. According to an NDTV report, the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) has launched a direct attack on Rahul Gandhi by releasing a video that mentions the historical record of the Congress and the violence of 1984.

The entire controversy began during the Congress 'Insaaf Rally' held in Sangrur on November 4. While addressing the rally, Rahul Gandhi recalled his days in Parliament with Bhagwant Mann. Making a serious allegation, he stated that he could smell alcohol on Bhagwant Mann's breath even in the morning. Rahul Gandhi further questioned how the Chief Minister could fight the drug problem in Punjab if he himself was in an intoxicated state every evening.

Along with this, Rahul Gandhi questioned AAP's claims of prohibition and a drug-free state in Punjab. He asked which area of the state had actually become drug-free. Following this attack by Rahul Gandhi, AAP initially responded personally. Through the party's social media handles, Rahul Gandhi was mocked as 'Pappu'. AAP leaders alleged that instead of engaging in a political discussion on Punjab's issues, Rahul Gandhi was launching personal attacks on the Chief Minister.

However, AAP has now given this fight a new turn. The party has released a new video on social media, alleging that Rahul Gandhi has insulted not only the Chief Minister but the entire Sikh community. The video shows scenes from the 1984 anti-Sikh riots, depicting attacks and violence against Sikh people. Through this video, AAP has claimed that Rahul Gandhi and the Congress harbour hatred for the Sikh community and Punjab.

This strategy of the Aam Aadmi Party indicates that instead of wasting time defending the allegations of alcohol consumption against CM Mann or the government's actions against drugs, they are bringing forward the issues of Congress's past and Sikh identity. The spat, which began with alcohol consumption and the problem of addiction, has now centered on the serious issues of Congress's political legacy and the 1984 violence.

Political analysts will now be observing how this video war and the harsh attacks on each other will impact the upcoming elections in Punjab. On one hand, Rahul Gandhi has attacked the Chief Minister's personal habits, while on the other, AAP has expanded the scope by linking it to the insult of the community and historical tragic events. This sequence of events is creating new tension in Punjab's politics, where personal allegations have now merged with issues of social and religious identity.