BJP slams AAP government, flags illegal mining, extortion, media censorship

The BJP recently criticized the AAP government in Punjab for a "breakdown of law and order", accusing them of establishing "undeclared censorship" and engaging in "managing headlines". Following the SAD chief Sukhbir Badal's visit to meet PM Narendra Modi, Tarun Chugh, the BJP RS MP and state-in-charge, addressed a press conference at the BJP headquarters.

Chugh expressed concerns over the party's governance style, stating that it has become "the country's biggest example of misuse of state machinery". He went on to allege that the AAP government has turned extortion, collection and torture centers into an everyday occurrence in the state. Chugh also took a jab at AAP chief Arvind Kejriwal, pointing out that despite his promise of a new mining policy, only Rs 800-900 crore has made it to the state treasury annually instead of the projected Rs 20,000 crore.

He alleged that the AAP government collects a "Mann Tax" of Rs 3,500 from every truck transporting illegally mined material. In addition to these accusations, Chugh highlighted that the AAP government had used force against its own sanitation employees who were conducting a peaceful protest in Barnala.