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

The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has lashed out at the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) government in Punjab, citing a "breakdown of law and order" and accusing the administration of instituting an "undeclared censorship." Following the SAD chief Sukhbir Badal's meeting with Prime Minister Narendra Modi, BJP Rajya Sabha Member and state-in-charge Tarun Chugh addressed reporters at the BJP headquarters, questioning the AAP's governance style and alleging that the party has become the "country's biggest example of misuse of state machinery." Chugh emphasized that the BJP will contest all 117 Assembly seats in the upcoming elections.

The BJP MP accused the AAP government of transforming extortion, collection, and torture centers into the norm in the state. Chugh took aim at AAP chief Arvind Kejriwal, stating that Kejriwal had promised a new mining policy that would inject Rs 20,000 crore annually into Punjab's treasury. However, he alleged that only Rs 800-900 crore has actually reached the state coffers.

Furthermore, Chugh claimed that the AAP government has resorted to force against its own sanitation employees who were holding a peaceful protest in Barnala.